Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam has said that the government will increase facilities for newspapers and private television channels while urging media owners to improve the benefits and pay of journalists.

He made the remarks on Sunday (26 October) while speaking at the ‘Meet-the-Reporters’ event organised by the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at its auditorium.

Emphasising the need to raise journalists’ salaries, the adviser said the government plans to fix a minimum entry-level salary for journalists. “Media outlets that fail to provide the minimum salary will not be entitled to any government facilities,” he warned.

Mahfuj Alam also announced that the government will digitise the private television broadcasting system. Once the system becomes digital, authorities will be able to determine the viewership of each channel. 

Channels with better performance will attract more advertisements, which will eventually increase their revenue,” he added.

Regarding the approval of new television channels, the adviser said the government has granted licences in line with existing policies. “We want to promote positive competition in the media industry, and new approvals are part of that effort,” he noted.

On the implementation of the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations, he said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has taken steps to execute 13 out of 23 immediate-action proposals made by the commission. “These will require the formulation of policies and ordinances, some of which depend on the decisions of the advisory council,” he explained.

The adviser mentioned that the draft of the Journalists’ Rights Protection Ordinance has already been sent for vetting. Once approved, it will be presented to the advisory council for consideration. Meanwhile, the government is also reviewing the proposed Media Workers Act and considering new regulations for private television channels.

Mahfuj Alam highlighted the growing influence of online media and OTT platforms, saying the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the ICT Division are jointly working to bring them under a structured framework. “Online media platforms that earn revenue from content dissemination must come under a registration system,” he said.

Addressing irregularities in newspaper circulation, he said many publications have inflated figures. “In the past three months, the Department of Films and Publications has monitored the circulation of most newspapers, revealing that many print only 500 to 1,000 copies daily,” he said. 

The adviser added that, based on the commission’s recommendations, newspaper circulation targets will be adjusted and advertisement rates will be doubled. He urged publishers to report accurate circulation data.

Responding to a question on journalists’ safety during the upcoming national elections, the adviser said the government would coordinate with the Election Commission to ensure their protection. 

On forming a permanent Media Commission, he noted that it would take time as the functions of various departments and agencies under the ministry would need to be redefined first.

He also called on all media houses to establish dedicated fact-checking teams to combat misinformation.

At the same event, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam said the government values ethics in journalism and emphasised the need for fair pay for journalists. 

He criticised the proliferation of unregistered news websites that publish copied content, urging strict adherence to copyright laws.