Government eyes journalist protection ordinance within a month: Rizwana Hasan

The government is working to introduce a Journalist Protection Ordinance within the next month, Information and Broadcasting Adviser SyedaRizwana Hasan has said.

Responding to questions from journalists at the ‘BSRF dialogue’ held at the Secretariat’s media centre on Sunday (January 4), Rizwana said efforts were underway to frame both a broadcasting ordinance and a journalist protection ordinance during the tenure of the interim government.

“If implemented, these ordinances will allow media professionals to carry out their duties without fear or intimidation,” she said, adding that the aim was to ensure greater safety and professional independence for journalists.

On the controversy surrounding the exclusion of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, the adviser said the issue would have been different had it remained purely sporting in nature. “Unfortunately, politics has been brought into the game,” she remarked.

Rizwana said that after a Bangladeshi player had been confirmed, he was later excluded on what appeared to be political grounds, according to media reports. “Such decisions hurt public sentiment in our country and naturally provoke a reaction. In such circumstances, the government also needs to take a position,” she said.

She added that the government was currently reviewing the legal basis and procedural aspects of any potential response and would take appropriate steps once the assessment was complete.