The government on Thursday formed the new board of directors of the state-owned national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) with former Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Martuza Ahmed as its chairman, reports BSS.
In line with the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Act 2018, the 13-member board, which comprises media figures and government representatives, is to discharge its function for the next three years, according to a notification of Bangladesh Gazette.
A former bureaucrat Ahmed previously served as a secretary to the government.
BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad, by virtue of his position would serve as the de-facto member-secretary of the BSS board.
The members who would represent the mainstream media in the new BSS board are: Shyamal Dutta, editor, the Dainik Bhorer Kagoj; Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, editor, The People's Life; MA Malek, editor, the Daily Azadi of Chattogram; Mozammel Haque, managing director, 71 Media Limited.
The government officials who are made members of the board are: the joint secretary (press) of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; a joint secretary of Finance Division of Ministry of Finance; a joint secretary of Public Security Division of Ministry of Home Affairs; a joint secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry; the principal information officer (PIO) of Press Information Department.
A special BSS correspondent, Mahfuza Jasmine, has been made the representative of the news agency journalists, officials and employees.