Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday hoped that the draft of the National Broadcast Bill-2016 will be placed in parliament in its next session, reports UNB. Speaking at a 'Meet-the-Reporters' programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), the minister said they have also completed the groundwork on the formation of the ninth wage board for newspapers and electronic media. “We're now preparing to submit the draft National Broadcast Bill to the cabinet and parliament after nearly two years of work on it. We hope we'll be able to place it in parliament in its next session," he said.
Once passed by parliament, the minister said, a broadcast commission will be constituted based on the Act. “It'll be a stronger semi-judicial body which will be empowered to issue or cancel licences to electronic and online mass media." About journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case, Inu said non-completion of the legal procedure of the cases is a failure of the government. He, however, said they are working to get out of the failure in this regard. Inu opposed BNP’s polls-time supportive government concept, terming it a conspiracy of the party. “The proposal on formation of the supportive government is nothing but a plot to foil elections and create a ground for installing an abnormal government.” He also thinks BNP is talking about such proposal as part of their move to create a ground for bargaining with the government to escape the trial of the cases filed against its chairperson and other leaders. About the new wage board, the minister said they have sought the name of a justice of the apex court on completion of the groundwork to form the board. The electronic media will be included in the wage board this time, he added.