Government and private stakeholders have agreed to draft an action plan to establish the National Media Commission (NMC).

The information ministry today organised a workshop at a Dhaka hotel, where detailed discussions were held regarding the commission's structure, the ministry said in a press release.

Chairing the workshop, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said, "This is the first time in Bangladesh that we have been able to bring all key stakeholders of mainstream media together on a single platform."

"Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government is implementing reforms in various sectors to build a welfare state. Media is one of the most vital areas of those reforms. Democracy cannot function effectively without a free and responsible media," he added.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury delivered the welcome address, while the Prime Minister's Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

Information Secretary Mahbuba Farjana, along with television channel owners, editors, journalists, researchers, and media experts from various organisations, including Editors' Council, National Editors Council, Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), Television Editors Council, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC), Photo Journalists Association, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangsha, and Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust, participated in the workshop.