"I am in favour of adding a punitive provision to the act to make it effective and to strengthen the council," Justice Abu Sayeed Ahammed, chairman of the council, said in the council's annual report 2004 placed in parliament yesterday.

Justice Ahammed, who was appointed the chairman of Bangladesh Press Council on May 26 this year, said amending the law is an urgent matter.

"I discussed the issue with the president, prime minister and information minister. They expressed their willingness to amend the provision," the chairman said.

Justice Ahammed also said the Press Council Act 1974 should also have some "executive force" so that the council can force any one to comply with the law and ensure punishment to the law violators.

The press council report's was placed yesterday amid the ruling alliance lawmakers' blistering attack on the media and demand for the enactment of tough laws to punish journalists for what they called 'fake news'.

The lawmakers too are demanding that the press council should be strengthened as they believe that the existing law is inadequate to control the media.

The existing provision in the law empowers the press council to warn, admonish or censure the editor or journalist of a newspaper or news agency, if it is proved that they committed any professional misconduct or breach of the code of journalistic ethics.

The provision also provides for an opportunity of hearing of the editor or journalist concerned and for holding an inquiry as prescribed in the act.

The press council chairman in the report observed that the provision is being violated frequently. "I hope the ministry concerned will immediately concentrate on the issue to bring an acceptable amendment to the law," he suggested.

LAWMAKERS CONTINUE CRITICISING THE PRESS
Like the previous day, parliament yesterday witnessed another spell of broadside against the media as Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus accused the press of damaging the country's democracy.

"Some newspapers in the name of freedom of press are damaging our democracy by practising yellow journalism," Quddus said expressing his support to the ruling BNP lawmakers' demand for enactment of a tough law against the media.

Replying to his point of order, Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar said the press cannot be controlled without enacting a new law as the press is enjoying freedom guaranteed by the constitution. "The chairman of the press council also told me that journalists do not care about the warning [issued by the council]," he said.