The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar laid stress on strengthening the Press Council to ensure freedom of press and protect the rights of the people.

Bangladesh Press Council arranged the seminar on "Is it essential to amend the Press Council Act-1974 to make it more functional" at the National Press Club yesterday.

Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs AF Hassan Ariff was the chief guest at the function while Information Secretary Jamil Osman spoke as the special gues.

Presided over by Justice Kazi Ebadul Haq, Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council, the seminar was addressed, among others, by former minister Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, former advisor of the caretaker government and Editor of The Independent, Mahbubul Alam, Editor of the New Nation, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of the Daily Bhorer Kagoz, Shaymal Datta, President of the National Press Club,Shawkat Mahmud,and President of Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union, Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul.

Hasan Ariff said in a democratic system people expect objective news and noted that lack of objectivity is fraught with many hazards.

He also pleaded for co-ordination between freedom of press and protection of people's rights.

Referring to the demand for amendment of the press council act, the Law Adviser said the issue should be discussed widely.

In his keynote speech, Dr.Shelley said change of time and situation demanded amendment to the press council act to make the law time befitting.

Jamil Osman called for making the existing law effective before thinking of making amendments to it.

Justice Ebadul Haq pointed out that freedom of press was essential to preserve the sovereignty of the country. He was of the view that due to its weak structure the council was unable to fulfill the aspirations of the people as well as media practicioners.

He termed the existing laws of the press council out-dated and called for updating them in the backdrop of changed socio-economic and political realities.

Some speakers were of the view that strong Press Council could have protected newsmen from libel and defamations cases filled in courts all over the country. They also suggested amendment of laws in such a way that journalists cannot be arrested without making reference to the Press Council in respect of cases related to the discharge of their professional.

Other called for strength the ring the institution by equipping it with adequate manpower, logistics and enforcement of all powers that have been vested in it with a view to establishing its moral authority in cooperation with editors and publishers of newspapers.