The cabinet has approved in principle the drafts of Broadcast Act-2018 and Media Employee Act to keep radio, television and online news media under regulations.
The two draft laws were approved in the regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday keeping provisions for formation of commission and facilities for the mass media employees.
After the meeting Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed the newsmen. He said, the new law named Broadcast Act-2018 is going to be formulated after discussing the matter with concerned authorities.
In the proposed law it is said about formation of a seven-member broadcast commission and members of it will be appointed through a search committee. Following recommendation of that committee the President will appoint the commission members.
The Cabinet Secretary said, the commission will issue license for broadcast equipments. For issuing registration for online mass media this commission will have unique authority.
He said, as well as formation of the commission the draft law also gives detail explanations in different aspects such as- commissioners’ appointment, qualifications-disqualifications, tenure, resignation, removal, designation and remuneration.
The Cabinet Secretary said, under the media employee act journalists will be judged as newsmen not as workers. Other facilities including annual leave were increased in the law.
It is mentioned in the law that if anybody violates the law then owner of the mass media will be punished and the government will shut down the media under any specific cause.
AH