Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday voiced concerns about the government move to set up a “media monitoring cell”, saying it feared that the step could curb media freedom.

In a press release, the human rights organisation, however, expressed hope that the government would take a well planned step, not a hasty one, over the matter  following discussions with all stakeholders.

On May 4, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu told parliament that the government would set up a “media monitoring centre” to keep an eye on news items published in different media.

But he did not clarify how and when it will be formed or how it will operate.

ASK, on several occasions, had called for taking effective steps to protect an environment where different media can work freely. The demands have not been implemented yet, according to the press release.

“On the other hand, laws and policies one after another involving the media and the announcement of keeping an eye [on the media] through a monitoring cell justify our apprehension.”