Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Sunday said he supports protecting journalists but also want to hold them accountable over their write-ups for their own safety.

The adviser made the remark at a discussion session held at the TIB office at Dhanmondi in the capital. The session focused on reforms in the media sector and was organised jointly by UNESCO, TIB, and the Swedish embassy.

Adviser Mahfuj said there are provisions and talks for holding many crucial officers accountable including lawmakers, judges, and detectives but not journalists. The adviser said he wants the situation to change for the better.

The policymakers in different media outlets, who determine the approach of news and opinions, must face questions regarding the credibility of their works, he said.

Only one or two media houses give taxes, but all others in the sector must be brought under the tax net, he suggested. Most media houses obtain political concessions from different governments to evade taxes, he claimed.

He also called for combining all three state media houses – BTV, Bangladesh Betar and BSS – into a single entity. He welcomed further discussions on ensuring the autonomy of these state-funded institutions.

In his speech, he called for reviewing the process of giving licenses to a large number of TV channels and online media outlets by the ousted Awami League regime. The government advertisement rates for media outlets will also be raised to suit the inflation rate, while those ineligible outlets illegally procuring advertisements will be brought to book.