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The cabinet has approved in principle the draft of the Broadcast Law, 2018 that keeps a provision of creating a commission for radio, television and online news outlets.
The draft was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Secretariat on Monday. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed the reporters after the meeting, report bdnews24.com, BSS.
The draft law proposed formation of a seven-member Broadcast Commission that would be appointed through recommendations from a search committee.
The commission will give broadcast licences and will be the sole authority on the registration of online media outlets, the cabinet secretary said.
The draft also proposed details regarding the appointments of the commissioners, the qualifications necessary, the length of their terms, the conditions for their resignation or removal, their ranks and remuneration, he said.
The cabinet secretary said if anybody continues broadcast despite being disqualified by the court for running it for perverted mentality and bankrupt, he or she will have to suffer maximum seven years jail or pay fine of Taka 50 million or both punishment.
Alam said the cabinet also okayed in principle “The Mass Media Employees (services condition) Law, 2018” with a provision for ensuring wage board for the employees of all media, including television channels.