Media organization RFED calls for adjustments in the Electronic Commission's media guidelines, hinting at potential withdrawal from election coverage reporting.
In a significant turn of events, the Reporters' Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) has called upon the Election Commission (EC) to suspend and revise its newly drafted guidelines for journalists, citing concerns over press freedom and independent reporting. The warning was issued in a memorandum submitted by RFED President Kazi Jebel and General Secretary Golam Rabbani to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC Building on 6 August.
The RFED argues that the policy was created without any consultation with media professionals, a move that they believe violates principles of independent journalism and democratic practice. The organisation's members have vowed to announce further programs if their demands are not met.
The RFED's primary concerns centre around impractical restrictions on journalist access and movement inside polling centres, as well as the prohibition of interviews and live broadcasts. These restrictions, according to the RFED, could severely impact coverage of the upcoming general election, limiting journalists’ ability to report independently and comprehensively, and thus affecting public access to critical information during democratic processes.
In a press release, the RFED warned that if the guidelines are not amended, journalists will refuse to cover the upcoming general election under the existing regulations. This stance was also reiterated in the memorandum submitted by the RFED.
The RFED's memorandum detailed numerous violations of independent journalism principles in the new guidelines, and the organisation's President, Kazi Jebel, a special correspondent of Jugantor, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Election Commission for the policy's revision.
These developments come as the EC prepares for the general election, with the RFED's warning serving as a stark reminder of the importance of press freedom and independent journalism in democratic processes. The RFED's urgency is underscored by the potential impact of the guidelines on the election's coverage, and the public's right to accurate and comprehensive information.
The RFED's call to suspend and revise the EC's guidelines for journalists is a significant issue in the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics. The RFED's concern over impractical restrictions on journalist access, movement, and live broadcasts within polling centres is a crucial point in the general-news discussion, highlighting the importance of maintaining press freedom and independent reporting during democratic processes.
