Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam said that the government will assess the state of media outlets owned by ministers and MPs of the Awami League regime and take appropriate measures accordingly.
The government will also examine which media houses are paying taxes and which are not.
The adviser made these remarks during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) held today at the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, according to a press release issued by the ministry.
Mahfuj Alam said, “During the previous fascist regime, many ministers and MPs became media owners through various means. It is necessary to thoroughly assess the overall condition of these media outlets and take necessary actions.”
He further stated, “The government will form a task force to improve the quality of newspapers. This task force will work transparently to determine the actual circulation numbers, implement the wage board, set advertisement rates, and ensure overall development of the newspaper industry.”
The information adviser stated that newspapers which are published in accordance with government policies will receive government benefits, including advertisements.
He added, “It is also necessary to verify whether media outlets are paying taxes. The government does not intend to shut down any newspaper, but transparency must be ensured at every level involved in newspaper publication, and a competitive environment must be created among different newspapers.”
