Stringent electronic media law....

To begin with, as rightly observed, this is rather stringent and certainly unwarranted given the current state of the media. If anything, the government should consider making it freer and more independent. As suggested in the report, the proposed committee "will examine whether the applicants have anti-state or anti people roles or attitudes" as one of the criteria for issuance of the licence etc. This is highly presumptuous, vague and wide open. Again I am curious as to what prompted the government to suddenly feel that "continued setting up of the electronic media in the private sector and their indefinite operation under simple guidelines are not wise" as officials concerned are quoted as saying. Clearly, if there is half a truth in what has been reported the proposed law is sure to turn out to be a law aimed at curbing the already precarious state of the freedom of the media. Bangladesh today is already living under conditions close to those of a Police State.

It is a shame when you come to think that Pakistan from whose occupation we snatched our freedom and gained our independence, today has more "democratic " institutions in place than Bangladesh, a classic example is its media. There is even a privately owned Pakistani TV Channel operating from Dubai. No less than the president of the country is often seen to be giving interviews to both national and international news media including attending question and answer sessions with the international press. Besides the print media continues to criticise the country's president in no lesser terms on a regular basis.

Mere heritage and tradition will not make us a democratic nation. We have to continuously and honestly work towards that goal without recourse to any falsehood or treacherous actions driven by "autocratic overtures".