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In the last decade, the growth of print and electronic media
and a new generation of journalists have changed the face of the media in
Pressure from political quarters is much less than it was when the military-backed government was in power only two years ago, Nazrul Islam, chief reporter of the English-language Daily Sun, told me in a telephone interview. Still, progress is slow to take hold. In 2009, the ruling Awami League government adopted the Right to Information Act. Journalists who had fought for transparency welcomed it, but the government needs to provide more information, because people still do not know how to take advantage of it. So we remain deprived of information from government offices.
Other limits are still in place. Zahid Newaz Khan, news
editor for the private television station Channel I, told me that some topics
are off-limits, because of limited access, or fear of official reprisal. "It's
very tough to report the inside story of the armed forces and judiciary," he
told me by telephone from
There is still pressure from powerful groups, particularly
on broadcast and electronic media, journalists say. Increasingly, these groups
include businesses as well as political organizations, according to journalists
I spoke with. The media in
"Journalists try their best to maintain professionalism amid pressure from these many adversaries," Islam told me. "In a transitional society like in Bangladesh, I believe, lack of democratic practices in almost all spheres of life hinders the growth of purely professional journalism. The state-owned media is highly controlled by the government and lacks professional standards. They work as mouthpiece of the government, regardless of which party is in power." That is significant in a country which is increasingly partisan, "pathologically divided," in Islam's words, "between two major political camps," the Awami League, and the opposition Bangladesh National Party.
Anwar Hossain Manju, former deputy chief news editor of
national news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Snagstha, agreed. "It's not a matter of
which party is in power," he told me. The ruling parties, whether in government
or opposition, don't like criticism, and as a result, many journalists are
facing not only defamation cases, but also death threats, said Manju, now
special correspondent for the New York-based weekly Ekhon Shomoy. Both
media outlets and journalists are under the close scrutiny of government
agencies, he said. "Democracy in
Media is widely seen as a tool of empowerment in
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Congratulations for ur writing!
Freedom of expression in Bangladesh has been ruined throughout the history by the so called politicians. Its one of the foundations for democracy. A holistic change in political culture is needed. I am trying to find out the answer of the following questions: What kind of leadership is necessary to make Bangladesh a developed nation? How can we make a society where every human person lives in dignity and achieves personal growth to ‘live a truly human life in dignity’?
Do you have the answer?
Way to go! I am so happy with the efforts you are doing in your field!let us all change the face of the world so that our children will have a safe place to stay
I'm so happy reading your notes so nicely composed to let the readers realize the limitations of press liberty in Bangladesh.
I would have been happier if you did add in your concluding paragraph a little more critical view of yours on our partisan attitudes both ways: to and from the press.
Wish you a bright future in your career as a journalist!
very practical writing. i agreed with manju vai,govt or opposition can't tolerate criticism.recently pm in parliament accused newspaper to protect her one of the unsuccessful communication minister. for him, she also stand against her party's most seniors fellow.
In the month of March-April expedition of present government against corruption, illegal position eviction, expedition against corruption, terrorist activities, market price, development news, political, violence, democracy, education, fire, decline of law and order, women torture, rescue arms, stealing-robbery, meeting-seminar, expedition of joint forces, agriculture problem, extortion and other different reports have published in 2007.
Thanks for your wonderful informative article. @ naznin akhter tonni I do agree with your mentioned issues. Both Govt. and oppositions have to be more tolerable to criticisms and facts.