Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government will act as a facilitator, not a regulator, in the ongoing media reform process aimed at ensuring press freedom. Speaking at a workshop held on Thursday at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka, he said the initiative seeks to create a widely accepted framework for a National Media Commission through open dialogue and stakeholder input. The ministry has brought together all sectors of the media for the first time to form an independent and strong national commission.

Swapan described the initiative as a milestone in promoting media reform and freedom, noting that the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is implementing reforms across key sectors to build a democratic and welfare-oriented state. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury emphasized the importance of clear input from media representatives to make the commission effective, independent, and accountable.

Participants from various media organizations and associations discussed the commission’s framework and reached a consensus to draft a national action plan, offering recommendations and proposals for its formation.