The Editors’ Council on Sunday demanded the repeal of and amendment to undemocratic provisions in media-related laws to ensure press freedom and create an environment for responsible journalism.

The demand was made during a meeting between the executive committee of the Editors’ Council and prime minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The council pointed out that many of the existing laws had become outdated, obstructing freedom of the press.  The council also called for the repeal of provisions in Form ‘B’ of the newspaper publication declaration, describing those as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Under the existing provisions, the publishers are required to declare and sign that they will refrain from publishing any matter contrary to the interests of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh or objectionable in their newspapers.

The publishers will also abide by all the rules of the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973, as per a Form ‘B’ provision.

The council said that such outdated laws also harmed the image of Bangladesh’s media internationally.

According to a statement issued by council president and New Age editor Nurul Kabir and general secretary and Bonik Barta editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the council also raised the issue of forming a media commission or strengthening the Bangladesh Press Council to reform the media sector as quickly as possible.

The statement said that the prime minister had directed the information minister to complete an examination and study of the matter by June and take necessary initiatives so that the government could achieve visible progress by July.

The prime minister also stressed the need for a self-regulation framework for the media.

In response, the Editors’ Council announced that it would take initiatives to formulate and adopt a code of conduct for journalists by July this year and would inform the prime minister of it accordingly.

The statement said that some members of the council raised the issue of harassment cases filed against journalists in the meeting.

Council members said that they believed proper investigations into the complaints against journalists and the due legal process were necessary in the interest of justice, but harassment and politically motivated cases were unacceptable under any circumstances.

They further said that if there were any specific and evidence-based allegations against a journalist, those should be resolved through the existing laws and a transparent judicial process.

The council statement said that the prime minister assured that he would discuss the matter with the home ministry.

The prime minister also said that the government was not a regulator of the media, but wanted to work as a facilitator.

He expressed his belief that a strong media was an essential part of the state, saying that his government would work sincerely in this regard, the statement said.

Information minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, state minister Yasser Khan Choudhury and the prime minister’s information adviser Zahed Ur Rahman were present at the meeting.

The executive committee members of the Editors’ Council who attended the meeting included president and New Age editor Nurul Kabir, treasurer and The Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, and general secretary and Bonik Barta editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud.

Also present were Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Manabzamin editor-in-chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Dainik Inqilab editor AMM Bahauddin, Dainik Karatoa editor Mozammel Haque, and Suprabhat Bangladesh editor Rusho Mahmud.

Prime minister’s press secretary Saleh Shibli and additional press secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon were also present during the meeting.

During the meeting, The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam handed over to the prime minister a list of journalists detained in several cases, signed by him.

Earlier, at a meeting with members of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh, the prime minister had requested the NOAB to provide a list of journalists who remained detained in several cases.