Arafat agrees to journalists’ demand of making social media accountable

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat has agreed to a demand placed by journalists to bring social media under a policy and accountability, and said he will take steps in this regard after talking all stakeholders.

“As journalists underscored the need to bring all social media, including YouTube and Facebook, under a policy and accountability, I, as the state minister for information and broadcasting, just agreed to the demand and will try to fulfill it after consulting with journalists and other stakeholders,” he said.

The state minister said this at a meeting with Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) leaders at his ministry’s conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat here.

In the meeting, the BJC leaders also placed other demands, including taking steps to complete Sagor-Runi murder trial, forming wage board for broadcast journalists, formulating a policy and constituting a council for broadcast and online journalism.

In reference to meetings with different journalist organizations, Arafat said that he got another proposal to formulate a policy determining the eligibility and qualification to be a journalist.

“But we want to say that Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government showed liberal approach in the last 15 years…we let the media to enjoy full freedom” he added.

“However, as you (professional journalists) want a policy for determining eligibility of journalists to bring discipline in the media industry, we will do it after talking with you,” he said.

About providing broadcast or internet services ignoring the existing laws, he said, legal actions will be taken against those who are involved in irregularities.

Responding to a call from journalists to take steps against sudden layoff in media, the state minister said it is the violation of universal human rights convention.

“I will issue an official directive to media outlet authorities so that no institution can sack its journalists with a short notice. Notice to layoff anyone must be served at least three months before,” he added.

Similarly, if any journalist wants to resign, he or she also should inform the authority before a certain period like two or three months, Arafat said.

The state minister sought cooperation from journalists in the process of fulfilling their (journalists) demands.

BJC chief Rezanul Haque Raja, member secretary Shakil Ahmed and trustee board member Syed Ishtiaque Reza were present at the meeting, among others. (BSS)