State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today said an advertisement policy will be formulated for online media.

“There is a necessity of a policy to determine government advertisement rates for online newspapers and news portals. Necessary steps will be taken to formulate a policy in this regard,” he said.

The state minister said this at a views exchange meeting with the officials of the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) at the conference room of Tatya Bhaban here this afternoon, said an official release.

DFP Director General (DG) SM Golam Kibria, Mass Communication Department DG Md Nizamul Kabir, Bangladesh Film Censor Board Vice-Chairman Khaleda Begum and other officials were present.

Noting that freedom of press and opinion has improved during the Awami League (AL) government, Arafat said that the present government is firmly committed to protect the fundamental rights of the people.

The state minister emphasized on a comparative study and publications on progress of freedom of thoughts and expression during the tenure of the present government with the scenario during the regimes led by the government of other political parties and military rulers.

Arafat asked officials to work sincerely to highlight the country’s development activities more effectively to the countrymen and outside the country through DFP publications.

In the backdrop of technological advancement and mindset of the people, Arafat said, the DFP has to bring dimension in its activities to cope with the challenges.

If needs, he said, initiatives will be taken to reform the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973.

Before joining the meeting, the state minister visited the exhibition and sales center, museum and library of the DFP.