Editors Guild seeks withdrawal of proposal to halt media ads

The Editors Guild, Bangladesh has demanded the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) withdraw its proposal to stop giving bank advertisements on newspaper (print and online) and television.

A letter regarding this was sent to BAB on Thursday, the organization's president and editor-in-chief of Ekattor TV, Mozammel Babu, told Jago News. 

The Editors Guild, Bangladesh is an association formed to protect editorial freedom and promote responsible journalism in the country.

"Stopping ads announcing from any organization is hostile behaviour with media that is disappointing," Mozammel Babu said.

"We (Editors Guild, Bangladesh) gave a letter to BAB for withdrawing its proposal, and hope they will backtrack on the move," he added.

The letter, however, read, "BAB recently has sent some proposals, including reducing ads on newspaper and television to its members that left us concerned. An institution, company or association gives its advertisement on mass media for own publicity, and on basis of acceptibility on the media."

".....We think such initiative will create misunderstanding and contradictory between two important sectors of the society," the letter said.

If the financilally stronger sector banks take such decision, other sectors would be encouraged to take the same step that will hamper advancement of the country's fourth pillar, mass media, the letter read.