Mass media in Bangladesh

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The mass media in Bangladesh refers to the print, broadcast and online mass media available in Bangladesh. The Constitution guarantees press freedom and freedom of expression within "reasonable restriction",[1] though some media outlets have been harassed, such as the daily Amar Desh newspaper[2] and Diganta Television[3][4] The Bangladeshi media's rank has dropped to 146[5] in 2018 from its position of 144 in 2016[6] out of total 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, with 1st being the most free.[7] After the July Revolution in 2024, many formerly banned media outlets had their suspension lifted.[8][9]

## Overview

[edit]

The media in Bangladesh is a mix of government-owned and private media. There are still criminal penalties for libel, defamation and sedition as well as reporting on national security issues.[1] Reporters can be held for up to 120 days without trial under the 1974 Special Powers Act. Media restrictions have usually increased during periods of political turmoil.[1] Reporters Without Borders has accused the army of targeting journalists and enforcing censorship.[3]

## News agencies

[edit]

News agencies were present in Bangladesh prior to its independence from Pakistan in 1971. The state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (AAP) had branches in Dhaka and Chittagong from 1949. After independence, the AAP was replaced by the Bangladesh state-owned agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. The second news agency to be established, and the first to be privately owned was Eastern News Agency (ENA). It was founded in Dhaka in the years immediately prior to the Bangladesh Liberation War by a consortium of six shareholders which included its founding editor Golam Rasul Mallick. United News of Bangladesh, founded in 1988 was the country's first fully computerised privately owned agency. Other private news agencies include News Network of Bangladesh (NNB) and BD News 24 which also launched the country's first photo agency, Focus Bangla.[10][11][12]

## Newspapers

[edit]

Further information: List of newspapers in Bangladesh

The print media is private and consists of hundreds of weekly publications, presenting a vast array of viewpoints, though some outspoken papers have faced pressure in the past.[1] English language papers such as the Daily Star appeal to an educated urban readership.[3]

## Television and radio

[edit]

Further information: List of radio stations in Bangladesh and Television in Bangladesh

Television is the biggest medium for news in Bangladesh.[3] There were 15 television stations in 1999.[13] In 2006, there were 15AM and 13FM radio stations available.[13] The BBC World Service broadcasts in the country, and Indian and other foreign television broadcasts are picked up in the country.[3] Currently there are more than 100 TV Channels in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), in special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC, considers community radio a special area for intervention. BNNRC has been promoting advocacy with the government in relation to community radio with other organizations since its emergence from 2000.[citation needed]

The objective of BNNRC's Community Radio intervention is to address crucial social issues at community level, such as poverty and social exclusion, empower marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic processes and on going development efforts.

The prime role of community radio is giving voice to the voiceless people who do not have access to the mainstream media to express their ideas and views regarding community development. Promoting the right to communicate, speed up the process of informing the community, assist the free flow of information and therefore act as a catalyst of change are few major tasks are to be done by community radio. It will also uphold creative growth and democratic spirit in the community level.[citation needed]

As a result, the Ministry of Information of People's Republic of Bangladesh announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008. Under this policy the Ministry of Information in 2011 approved the installation, broadcast, and operation of the first 12 community radio stations in Bangladesh.[14] By 2016, the number of active community radio stations rose to 14.[15] To ensure free flow of information and people's right to information government enacted Right to Information Act 2009. Community Radio approval is a strong step to empower rural people in this regard.[citation needed]

Initially government approved 14 Initiators like Young Power in Action(YPSA) for Sitakunda, Chittagong, Nalta Community Hospital for Satkhira, LDRO for Bogra, BRAC for- Moulivi Bazer, Barandro Community Radio for -Naogaon, Proyas for -Chapai Nababgonj, CCD for - Rajshahi, Srizoni for - Jhinaidhah, EC Bangladesh for - Munsihigonj, MMC for - Barguna and RDRS for- Kurigram, Sundarban Community Radio for Koyra(Khulna), ACLAB for - Telnaf (Cox's Bazer) and Agriculture Information Services (AIS) for - Community Rural Radio for Amtoli (Barguna)

BNNRC provided technical assistance to around 200 organizations in the community radio application process through a National Help Desk on Community Radio in BNNRC Secretariat in Dhaka. Through this experience, a proactive institution should be activated to create the necessary human resource, research and development and technical cooperation for Community Radio in Bangladesh. In this backdrop, BNNRC has established Community Radio Academy (CRA). The academy will organize community radio related training, research, technical assistance and other support round the year to Community Radio Initiators.

Community radio is considered an alternative, effective mass media for the rural disadvantaged population to express their thoughts in their own voice using their own style. Usually Community radio is non-profit organization.

## Internet media

[edit]

Main article: Internet in Bangladesh

There are an estimated 11.4 million internet users in Bangladesh,[13] and use is unrestricted by the government; however some journalist's emails have been monitored.[1] People also use online newspapers and news portals. There are huge online newspaper and news portal in Bangladesh. However, not all news portals are listed by Bangladesh's government. Now Bangladesh government try to create memorandum for online news portal. Also some social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and OwnMirror become powerful media in Bangladesh.

## See also

[edit]

* Bangladesh portal
* Journalism portal
* Internet portal
* Radio portal
* Television portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Bangladesh - Freedom of the Press". Freedom House. 2016.
2. ^ "Amar Desh stops publication for now". The Daily Star. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
3. ^ a b c d e Country profile: Bangladesh, BBC News Online
4. ^ "Diganta Television to return after 11 years". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
5. ^ "2018 World Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders". Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
6. ^ "World press freedom index". Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
7. ^ Worldwide Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders
8. ^ "Diganta Television to return after 11 years". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
9. ^ "Mahmudur Rahman: Amar Desh newspaper to relaunch by December". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
10. ^ Banerjee, Indrajit and Logan, Stephen (eds.) (2008). Asian Communication Handbook 2008, p. 110. Asian Media Information and Communication Centre. ISBN 9814136107.
11. ^ Salam, Shaikh Abdus (1997). Mass media in Bangladesh: Newspaper, radio and television, p. 54 . South Asian News Agency
12. ^ The Daily Star (23 May 2006). "Journalist Golam Rasul Mallick passes away". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
13. ^ a b c Bangladesh, CIA World Factbook
14. ^ Rahman, Anis (January 2012). "Television and Public Sphere in Bangladesh: An Uneasy Relationship". Media Asia. 39 (2): 89. doi:10.1080/01296612.2012.11689922.
15. ^ Rahman, Anis (2016). "Print and Electronic Media". In Sajjadur Rahman, Mohammad; Riaz, Ali (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Bangladesh. Routledge. pp. 328–329\. ISBN 978-0-415-73461-5.

This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mass media in Bangladesh.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Mass media in Bangladesh.

* Bangladeshi All Newspapers and Media List
* All Bangla and English Newspapers
* Ministry of Information
* Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
* 24 Live Newspaper
* Media and Telecommunications Landscape Guide in Bangladesh, a 'infoasaid' guide, May 2012, 135 pp.
* Live Newspaper Today

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