Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said the media should not be controlled but brought under a proper regulatory framework to ensure the legitimate rights of all stakeholders.

He said that in the absence of good governance and an effective regulatory system, there could be a tendency in some cases to use the media as a tool for business interests or bargaining. Such practices, he said, could undermine media freedom and credibility.

The minister made the remarks as a special guest at a seminar titled “The Role of Media in Sustainable Democracy”, organized by the Television Editors Council (TEC) at a hotel in the capital on Friday.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the seminar as the chief guest.

Swapan said the government wants to build a media ecosystem in which a balance is maintained among the interests of media owners, journalists, advertisers, the state and the public. At the same time, journalists should be able to perform their professional duties independently while receiving fair recognition and economic security.

Describing democracy and the media as complementary to each other, the minister said an independent and responsible media is essential for establishing sustainable democracy. Likewise, democracy becomes stronger through the development of a free and responsible media.

He urged all stakeholders to view the media not merely as a business enterprise but as one of the important foundations of the state and society.

The minister said the government does not seek to impose any form of control over the media. Rather, journalists, media owners and the government are working together to establish an independent, responsible and economically sustainable media system.

Swapan said journalism and the media industry are different from other sectors because they serve as an unofficial yet indispensable fourth pillar of the state and society. Therefore, ensuring the professional independence, dignity and security of journalists is an important responsibility of the state. At the same time, he stressed that the economic foundation of the media industry must also be strengthened.

He said the media industry would not be sustainable unless media owners receive a fair business environment and reasonable returns. He added that the advertising market for products and services would also fail to expand without a strong private-sector production economy.

The information minister noted that the media ecosystem has become increasingly complex with the integration of traditional media, digital platforms, global technology companies and artificial intelligence.

He emphasized the need for forward-looking policies and institutional reforms in light of these changing circumstances.

Referring to the new opportunity for state and institutional reforms under the leadership of Tarique Rahman following the July mass uprising and the latest national election, Swapan called on all stakeholders to work together to utilize the opportunity for reforms in the media sector as well.

The keynote paper at the seminar was presented by Mostafa Akmal, Chief News Editor of Independent Television.

The seminar was chaired by Dr. Abdul Hai Siddique, convener of the Television Editors Council and Editor-in-Chief of Banglavision.

Among others, Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, Protidiner Bangladesh Editor Maruf Kamal Khan, National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, and Daily Wada Editor Shafiqul Alam addressed the seminar.

The welcome speech was delivered by Zubayer Babu, member secretary of the TEC and CEO of Somoy Television.