Govt issues draft ordinances for broadcast, media commissions

The information and broadcasting ministry yesterday published drafts of ordinances of the national media and broadcast commissions and sought opinions by Saturday.

Appeals against the decisions of the Broadcast Commission can be made to the ministry, whose decisions will be considered final, according to the draft of “Broadcast Ordinance, 2026”.

The ministry also called a stakeholders’ meeting at 5:00pm today at the Film and Publications Department’s conference room. The information adviser will chair the meeting to gather views on the two drafts.

The draft “Broadcast Ordinance” has a provision for a five-member selection committee to recommend a five-member Broadcast Commission, with at least three members from the bureaucracy.

The committee would comprise the cabinet secretary, the information ministry secretary, two persons with at least 15 years’ experience in broadcasting activities, and an additional secretary as its member secretary.

The draft says the chairman and members would be ineligible if they hold profit-making posts, are involved in media-related businesses, hold dual passports, or have been convicted in criminal offences.

According to the draft, the commission would oversee the formulation and compliance of broadcasting policies.

It would recommend issuance of licences upon applications and coordinate with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on technical issues.

The commission would be empowered to inspect broadcasting offices and collect documents or digital evidence. In case of violations, it could impose fines, order corrective broadcasts, cancel licences and take other necessary measures. However, the draft ordinance also proposes a provision for appeals against these decisions with the information ministry. In such cases, the ministry’s decision will be considered final. 

Owners of existing broadcasting media, defaulters declared by Bangladesh Bank or a court, dual citizens, those who have not completed five years after serving a two-year prison sentence, and those who have not completed three years since a licence was revoked will not be eligible to apply for a new broadcasting licence.

The draft proposes that those involved in broadcasting activities in violation of the law may face imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine ranging from at least Tk 10 lakh to a maximum of Tk 50 lakh, or both.

If any broadcaster airs confidential military or civilian information that may threaten state security or disrupt public order, each person involved may be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 10 lakh, or both.

The draft proposes that anyone involved in broadcasting advertisements for unauthorised financial institutions, betting or gambling, tobacco or tobacco products, alcohol or narcotics, or any advertisement that is deceptive to the general public may be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine ranging from Tk 5 lakh to Tk 30 lakh, or both. 

If parliament, the offices of the president and the prime minister, court proceedings, cantonment areas, or key point installations (KPIs) or institutions are shown in advertisements, those responsible may be punished with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Tk 2 lakh. 

The draft proposes that offences be tried by a Broadcast Tribunal, with complaints filed only by commission-authorised persons, and that all offences be bailable.

Contacted, Rezwanul Huq, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Broadcast Journalists Centre (BJC), told The Daily Star that the broadcast sector involves multiple stakeholders, including the ICT ministry, BTRC, cable operators, internet service providers, and issues such as the salary structure of broadcast journalists, but the draft ordinance does not address all these concerns.

“We don’t want an incomplete broadcast ordinance passed in a hurry during the government’s final days. We want a comprehensive law that includes all parties after the next government takes office,” he added.

Media Commission 

The draft National Media Commission Ordinance, revised yesterday, proposes a commission of a chairman and eight members, including at least one woman and one member from a small ethnic or indigenous community. One member would serve as member secretary. The chairman and members would be appointed for up to four years.

Disqualifications include non-citizenship or dual citizenship; convictions for financial corruption or moral turpitude unless two years have passed since the sentence ended; bankruptcy or unsoundness of mind; other profit-making posts (for members); and conflicts of interest, including recent paid work in media or advertising.

A five-member selection committee would recommend candidates for appointment by the president. It would be led by an Appellate Division judge nominated by the chief justice and include the cabinet secretary, a public university professor of mass communication and journalism or law, and two top journalists with at least 20 years’ experience.

The two journalists must not be active members of any political party, hold ownership stakes in any media organisation, or have served as a media chief executive immediately before joining the committee.

The draft says the commission would uphold freedom of expression and press freedom by protecting media and journalism, setting standards for self-regulation and ensuring compliance.

It would frame codes of conduct and best practices in line with international norms, resolve consumer complaints against approved electronic and online media, and issue mandatory directives.

It would also frame regulations on journalists’ minimum qualifications and protection, including the right to access information under existing laws; investigate matters of public interest and publish reports; work without unwarranted or undue control, subject to objectivity; protect sources and data; refuse work outside professional standards; and safeguards against unlawful intrusion into communications and privacy.

The draft says all media outlets would be required to follow the commission’s regulations. It also says the commission would recommend measures to the government and law enforcers to prevent threats, harassment, sexual harassment, and violence against journalists, and coordinate compensation for journalists who suffer violence, unlawful detention, enforced disappearance or abduction while on duty.

The commission could also order corrective measures, including compensation, with appeals to the government, according to the draft.