DHAKA, Sept 23, 2024 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam today said that the interim government is hopeful about declaring the formation of the mass media reform commission by the next week.

"I am optimistic that we will be able to declare the formation of the mass media reform commission by the next week. The declaration is expected to come after the Chief Adviser's returns home from the UNGA in New York," he said.

The adviser was addressing a view-exchange meeting with publishers, editors and other stakeholders of different newspapers, organized by Department of Films and Publication (DFP) at Tathya Bhaban here.

Additional Information Secretary (in-charge) Md Nazrul Islam addressed the meeting as special guest with DFP Director General Abul Kalam Mohammad Shamsuddin in the chair.

Nahid said everyone wants freedom of mass media. "But, I want to ask a question . . . is there any boundary of the press freedom? We want to ensure all freedom attaching priority to the interest of the country and the student-people uprising," he added.

The adviser extended thanks to the newspaper publishers, editors and reporters for properly highlighting the incidents during the July upsurge. 

The countrymen, he said, became depended on newspapers to get actual information during the students-mass upsurge. "So, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to them," he said, adding that but some newspapers were in favour of the fascist government. The persons who played provocative role during the July upsurge will have to be brought to book."

About the newspapers' outstanding bills, Nahid said the government is trying to digitalize the bill payment system to give hassle-free service.

The daily Jugantar editor Saiful Alam, the daily Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, the daily Kaler Kantha editor Hasan Hafiz, the Daily Sun editor Rezaul Karim, the daily Prothom Alo executive editor Sajjad Sharif, the daily Naya Diganta executive editor Salauddin Babor,

The Daily Star's head of operation Mizanur Rahman, the daily Ajker Pathrika managing editor Kamrul Hasan, the daily Ittefaq news editor Ashok Kumar Singha, the daily Sangram managing editor Nurunnabi, the daily Sangbad chief reporter Shahriar Karim, the daily Inqilab executive editor Fahima Bahauddin Shama and the daily Azadi managing editor Wahid Malek, among others, spoke at the meeting.