Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
COUNTRY
CASE STUDY:
BANGLADESH
Support to media where
media freedoms and rights
are constrained
Front cover
Right
Mobile phones:
ubiquitous among the
younger generation and
increasingly important
across all sections of
society.
Executive summary
The media market in Bangladesh has mushroomed over to stimulate public debate and generate change. This is an
the past 10 years, with a large range of highly profitable increasingly varied, dynamic and complex market, with
newspapers and satellite TV channels springing up. At major implications for public dialogue on policy issues
the national level, the media and for donor support.
Some observers suggest has become dominated by a
The media in Bangladesh has a rich tradition of
few large corporations often
that the media is, increasingly, with primary interests in other
independence. It can, in general, speak out on most issues,
and its right to do so is guaranteed under the Constitution.
filling the political vacuum left commercial sectors. Brand new
But media outlets particularly at local level can still
web-based initiatives, which go
by the lack of any real policy right down to the village level,
face pressure and intimidation from national and local
administrative, commercial and even criminal bodies, and
are now being driven by a few
debate. energetic individuals and by
self-censorship is common at every level.
donors. Bangladesh has one of the highest mobile phone Legislative changes, such as the Right to Information Act
penetration rates in the world, and, as mobile services (RTI) in 2009, seem to demonstrate the commitment of
improve (even in rural areas), they have massive potential the current Awami League Government to media freedom.
Right
The media in Bangladesh is diverse, competitive, into shopping malls and media, publishes the vernacular
commercial and profitable. This is a boom time, with dailies Kaler Kantho and Bangladesh Protidin, the English
most media outlets making money and wielding some daily The Daily Sun, and the online BanglaNews24.com (not
political influence in an expanding market. With the advent to be confused with Bdnews24.com).
of popular, independent, commercial satellite TV in the
past ten years, as well as better communication, higher
Shahidul Alam, founder of the Occasional daring,
internationally respected Drik social
literacy rates and mass audiences (the daily Prothom Alo
advocacy media group, argues that, frequent self-censorship
had more than five million readers in March-April 20119),
the potential for the media to wield political influence over
The mainstream media outlets wont and a reliance on safe,
cover Telecoms companies in negative
its audiences has grown.
ways as that is their main source of mass appeal formats,
How does the media use this new-found commercial revenue.13
strength and political influence to engage with those rather than in-depth
Similarly diverging perspectives apply
audiences on key issues? How does it navigate continuing
restrictions?
to the broadcast sector. While there coverage and debate.
continues to be near universal access
The picture that emerges from this study is of a mixture to radio across the country, listenership is declining as
of occasional risk-taking, frequent self-censorship and a access to television increases. Indeed, TV has become
reliance on safe, mass appeal formats, rather than in-depth the dominant form of mass communication over the past
coverage and debate. decade. In 2011, according to the A.C. Nielsen National
Media and Demographic Survey, 74 per cent of the
Interviews and research for this paper also revealed
population had access to TV.14 The same survey suggests
disparities between media freedom at national and local
that radio listening had declined to only 16 per cent of the Below
level, with most respondents seeing the national media as
population by 2011. While the state-owned broadcasters A man reads a newspaper
powerful enough to be outspoken on some issues. At local
retain the largest audience share through their monopoly in front of a mosque in
level, however, the media can face threats, intimidation
on terrestrial TV (BTV) and on national FM and AM radio Chittagong.
and worse.
Right
British Council In 1998 the British Council gave initial funding to Pathshala now the Pathshala Management training
South Asian Media Academy created by the Bangladeshi photo agency Drik. The skills
Academy is now supported by Drik and The Goethe-Institut. The Council contributed
management training skills and helped explore the role of the media in good governance.
The Academy now identifies and trains promising media professionals on production
and ethical standards, building on Driks experience of training photographers to
engage, inform and empower the public. Fundamentally, says the website, Ours is a
civic mission: laying the groundwork for a more just and equitable society.
Danish Convened the quarterly Media Coordination Committee until 2005. Today, Danish No direct media
International support strengthens the ability of the Government and civil society to target and assistance, but support
Development deliver advocacy on human rights and good governance. While it no longer provides for government and
Agency direct media assistance, Danida does support media via its backing of linked civil society civil society organisations
(Danida) organisations. on advocacy
UK Department In 2009-10, DFIDs contribution of almost 7.5 million ($12 million) included support Support for
for International to the Bangladesh branch of Transparency International, which works with civil Transparency
Development society groups to increase the demand for political change, and to the BBC discussion International (and
(DFID) programme, Sanglap.66 formerly for the
programme Sanglap)
Dr Hossain, from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, is
to raise the profile of
reported by the 2009 International Development Committee as saying: DFID
governance issues
support to civil society has, with considerable success, supported raising the profile
of governance issues within the public debate in Bangladesh. Issues of corruption and
public accountability across the public sectors are now widely and routinely scrutinised
in the media and public discourse.67
European The Commissions second priority in Bangladesh for 2007-13 is good governance and Training on economic,
Commission human rights, with a budget of Euro 130 million. In 2007, the EC funded the Economic trade and business
Journalists Network through the Centre for Communication and Development to pay reporting to forge
the Thomson Foundation to bring journalists to the UK for training to: good relations
enhance skills and quality of specialised economic, trade and business reporting between the
business and media
establish good relations between business institutions and individuals, and local media communities
owners and journalists.68
Goethe Institut The cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany promotes knowledge of the Funding for the
German language and fosters international cultural cooperation, but has also given Pathshala South Asian
support to the Pathshala South Asian Media Academy. Media Academy
Swiss SDC budgeted CHF 24.1 million ($25.3 million) for 2011 in Bangladesh, and focuses on Funding for a range
Development the two thematic areas: employment and income generation, and local governance. of media projects
Cooperation related to governance,
SDC supports the following media projects related to governance:
(SDC) including networks for
The Citizens Voice for Improved Local Public Services project which, with media professionals,
CHF1.52 million ($1.6 million) engages local/national newspapers, TV and radio partnerships with
stations and, importantly, national press institutes, journalist bodies and press clubs Transparency
to establish an overarching media network. It links to the Governments new International and
Information Commission the World Bank, and
Transparency International (Bangladesh), to improve awareness of corruption, support for Amader
contributing CHF5 million ($5.25 million) as part of a consortium of donors Sthaniyo Sarkar
The Policy Reform on Local Governance (PROLOG) project, jointly with the World
Bank, contributing CHF4.05 million ($4.25 million) to expand the scope of the national
dialogue on local governance, inform citizens and improve local governance capacities
The new Amader Sthaniyo Sarkar project, which showcases local government best
practices in Bangladesh on radio, TV and through an interactive website.
United Nations UNDP has been instrumental in setting up an online, interactive access to information Online interactive
Development project. access to information
Programme
With a grant of $416,000, its Access to Information project at the Prime Ministers
(UNDP)
Office spearheaded the introduction of e-enabled services and the creation of
decentralised service delivery points across the country. This contributes to stronger
local governance through greater participatory planning and implementation, and the
improvement of the management and accountability of services.
United Nations UNESCO has focused on three broad areas: media capacity building, aiding the Media capacity
Educational, establishment of media-friendly laws, and facilitating equitable access to information building, establishment
Scientific and knowledge.69 The agency has organised seminars and meetings to discuss of media-friendly laws,
and Cultural broadcasting policy and, in July 2009, worked with the Centre for Development facilitating equitable
Organization Communication (CDC) to establish the Media Nagorik Forum (MNF). The forum holds access to information
(UNESCO) meetings where media consumers voice their feelings about media-related topics. It and knowledge
has produced books in Bangla and in English to improve journalists knowledge and
professional standards.
UNESCO has also supported the establishment of the first community radios in
Bangladesh, as well as training for their staff. It created a journalism award programme,
in partnership with the Bangladesh Centre for Development Journalism and
Communication (BCDJC), which recognises professional, high quality investigative
reporting.
United Nations UNICEF focuses on the ethical reporting on children, the training of journalists and the Reporting childrens
Childrens Fund creation of links with media establishments to improve the way in which children and issues ethically
(UNICEF) childrens issues are reported.
US Agency for Through its four year, $18.2 million Promoting Governance, Accountability, Strengthening
International Transparency and Integrity (PROGATI) Programme (2007-11) USAID (Bangladesh) institutions to address
Development aimed to address the root causes of corruption and improve the lives of Bangladeshis corruption and
(USAID) by strengthening selected democratic institutions including the media to make them increase accountability
more responsive to citizens needs.
One component of PROGATI aimed to promote the principles of accountability,
transparency, and responsiveness by strengthening the media to serve as an effective
public watchdog.
The programme established a media centre for investigative reporting to increase the
medias capacity to report on transparency and corruption issues and advocate for legal
reform and freedom of information laws.
in training that aims to develop their professional skills and Online and offline fora
inspire them to write investigative reports on corruption
and governance issues.76 In September 2011, the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC), launched an interactive web portal
Linked to this, and to encourage investigative reporting for the television talk show Amader Sthaniyo Sarkar (Our
on corruption, TIB launched an investigative journalism Local Government). The website is an interactive platform
award in 1999. Two awards are given each year for the where elected local Government representatives, officials,
best investigative reports published in print and electronic academics, practitioners, NGOs and the wider population
media, with a special category of award for journalists of Bangladesh can share ideas, opinions and views regarding
from local newspapers.77 the talk show itself and local government issues in general.79
The Pathshala South Asian Media Academy was founded Another example was the construction in 2007 of two
in March 2010 as an extension of the Drik photo agencys community-based e-centres at the union parishad (UP)
Pathshala South Asian Institute of Photography. The level (the lowest administrative level in the country), to
Below Media Academy is supported at present by Drik and test the introduction of IT.80 This was financed by UNDP.
Question and answer the Goethe-Institut (Bangladesh). The Academy offers
style debates have four free-standing modules; photography, videography, Three years later, e-centres, re-named Union Information
become a popular multimedia, and broadcast, with media ethics and and Service Centres (UISCs), had been inaugurated in
format in the country. journalistic rigour as core competencies.78 each one of the countrys 4,498 UPs. In October 2011
BBC MEDIA ACTION
Annual A.C.Nielsen Media and Democracy in Bangladesh and so on through specialised trainings. And by focusing on
surveys capture changing trends in media habits and local, regional journalists and media outlets, including local
consumption patterns nationwide. newspapers and community radios, some donors, such as
USAID hope to both strengthen them in conflicts with local
There is also a mass of academic and commercial research
and state actors, and to boost local voices in any national
on media and communication in Bangladesh. These tend to
policy dialogue.93
concentrate on issues of media freedom, or lack of it, and on
TV and on mobile networks and provision the two fastest The third way is to back e-projects and specific radio or
growing forms of media, where information is often out of TV programmes designed to enable a more
date almost as soon as it is published. There is, however, inclusive public dialogue. Apart from Sanglap,
very little public information on the impact of different media which stopped broadcasting in 2010, these The increasing
support initiatives with a governance perspective. are too young to have had any significant corporatisation of the
impact as yet.
The BBC World Service Trusts 2008 report by David Page,
Political Talk Shows & Accountability in Bangladesh, specifically
media gives a new
Limitations on media support
addresses the relationship between the BBCs flagship talk twist to questions
show programme Sanglap and competing talk shows on There are a number of challenges to
other channels, and looks at related improvements in the successful interventions in the media in terms about objectivity and
of good governance in Bangladesh:
public discourse on policy and developmental issues.91
balance.
Others, with direct or indirect donor support, have looked Corruption: a major concern in terms of
at various issues, including: the link between media and any kind of direct, large-scale media support project,
the emergence of democracy; NGO-media interaction; particularly if it involves significant capital expenditure
governance and the media; Grameens village phone Broadening policy dialogue by any means depends
programme; anti-corruption interventions, and so on. on some level of honest, on-going commitment from
officials at all levels, which is not always there
Key findings The daily harassment and danger experienced by local
Donors are preoccupied with governance (identified as and regional media outlets and journalists in reporting
one of the main areas in which Bangladesh fails its people) controversial subjects is greater than that faced by
and, therefore, with media as a major support to good editors of national media owned by powerful and wealthy
governance and transparency. However, the quality of corporations (though even they are not immune)
the media depends on the quality of ownership, and the The owners and editors of much of the media drive
increasing corporatisation of the media gives a new twist the idea of politics-as-personality, rather than the
to questions about objectivity and balance. concept of issue-based politics
Editors (press or broadcast) are not always free to
Different opinions about the role of the media print or say what they know should be said, deriving
Given the binary nature of Bangladeshi politics, the media their editorial policies from the commercial interests
tends to cleave down the fault line between the Awami and corporate demands of their owners
League and BNP political parties. As Danidas Senior
Programme Officer, Mahal Aminuzzaman says, There are Editors rarely buy-in to training programmes, even
if they are free of charge. Rather than spare senior
vested interests in the media too, and sometimes the media
journalists, for whom a particular training may be
isnt clear about what its role should be.92
designed, they send cub reporters, or administrative
This party-political division of the media also means that staff with no journalism experience at all
the media often fails to give space to marginalised voices,
There is no formal collaboration among multilateral
especially those of the poor majority who live outside the
agencies (the World Health Organization and other
main urban centres. And while media freedom may be a
UN agencies, the World Bank, etc.) and bi-lateral
goal for donors it is not, in general, seen in a positive light
donors, and the old Danida-led Media Coordination
by Government leaders who tend to take any criticism of
Committee, which included media development
policy decisions as personal insults.
partners (except the BBC World Service Trust), hasnt
This, in turn, means that individual journalists and the media met since Danida reduced its involvement in direct
as a whole can be subject to the whims of powerful members media support projects.
of the administration, army, police and Government. While Shahidul Alam of Drik insists that while donor support to
freedom of the press is guaranteed constitutionally, the media is necessary, donors need to be more open and
reality is one of constant censorship, threats, intimidation transparent about their decision-making processes. They
and even the deaths of journalists. should, he says, create and foster real partnerships rather
Another strategy is to strengthen different aspects of national than simply paying lip-service to the term while actually
and regional journalism and reporting anti-corruption making every decision themselves and using their partners
reporting, human rights reporting, investigative reporting as little more than contracted service deliverers.94
As in the UK, some Bangladeshi corporations that own be equally important to strengthen their links with, and
multiple media outlets are so powerful and ruthless that understanding of, the media.
it has become politically risky (or even physically risky, in
Collaboration between donors on approaches to media
the case of Bangladesh) to oppose them or their actions.
support and public dialogue is essential for any long term,
What is more, the political and economic interests of their
realistic vision to take root and grow.
other concerns leak inevitably into the approach taken
by their media outlets. The twin issues of cross media
ownership and of concentrated corporate ownership of Recognising the role of new
the media need to be addressed communications technology
Establishing the principle so that a few companies do not
Relatively few donors seem to take note of the increasing
become totally dominant.
among the political class importance of digital media and communication technology
The same can be said of the SMS, blogs, portals, etc. Given the near 100 per cent
(including editors and others) Government and administration. penetration rate of mobile phones in a population of
Those who systematically oppose
that ordinary people have a the government of the day, let
155 million people, and the speed with which the field
is developing, it would be wise to plan interventions and
right and need to be alone the army and police, will support in this area of communications alongside more
almost certainly face legal and traditional approaches. At the same time, there is already
consulted on policy decisions extra-legal difficulties. This needs a need for assistance in the technical development of highly
to be addressed, as it represents
would be a big step in the a significant barrier to real public
interactive websites and portals. Even the most popular
website in Bangladesh BDnews24.com is desperate
right direction. dialogue. for help in this area (we can do everything else, says
The media, civil society and the Touffique Khalidi95).
Government all have important roles to play in maintaining
a healthy and stable society, but there is little willingness The importance of monitoring and
to understand that they are mutually, rather than solely,
responsible. Each tends to interpret their own role as the
evaluation
only important one and views the others as enemies. Finally, it is necessary to allow, and even encourage, a
much higher percentage of expenditure on monitoring
Establishing the principle among the political class (including and evaluation, to allow media and public dialogue projects
editors and others) that ordinary people have a right and and programmes to establish real baseline data, and to
need to be consulted on policy decisions would be a big measure change against highly detailed and accurate media
step in the right direction. consumption and other data.
While external donors need to be realistic about their
potential impact on these domestic challenges, the
research carried out for this study suggests that they
should consider the following approaches.
1
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/ 22
Reporters without Borders. http://www.ccdbd.org/
publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html. news/EU/2006/October/ej_net_nil_06.html.
Accessed on 12 July, 2012 Accessed on 30 January 2012
2
Ibid. 23
Ibid.
3
World Bank. Poverty in Numbers: 24
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. 8
http://www.worldbank.org.bd/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/ April 2011. 2010 Human Rights Report: Bangladesh.
COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/BANGLADESHEXT US Department of State
N/0,,contentMDK:22977793~pagePK:141137~piPK: 25
Freedom House, op. cit.
141127~theSitePK:295760,00.html.
Accessed on 4 April 2012
26
Anand Kumar. South Asia Analysis Group. 28 November
2005. Islamists Threaten to Cripple Bangladesh State
4
UNESCO Institute of Statistics. National Adult (15+) with Suicide Terrorism. http://www.southasiaanalysis.
Literacy Rates. http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/ org/%5Cpapers17%5Cpaper1629.html, The JMB on
TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=210 . November 21 [2005] announced its intentions to blow
Accessed on 4 April 2012 up the Tangail Press Club .and threatened to kill
5
CIA Factbook, op. cit. journalists in Tangail. Accessed on 28 November
6
Ibid. 2011
7
UNData, United Nations Statistics Division. 2012:
27
Interview, 10 October 2011
http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName= 28
Constitution of the Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh. Accessed on 4 April 2012 Bangladesh. 2004. Part III Fundamental Freedoms,
8
CIA Factbook, op. cit. para. 36
9
A.C. Nielsen, National Media & Demographic Survey,
29
Interview, op. cit.
2011 30
Bangladesh Press Council. Code of Conduct 1993
10
Ibid. (amended 2002). Para 2
11
Bettina Wassener, In An Unlikely Corner of Asia, Strong
31
International Press Institute. June 2009. The Media
Promise of Growth. New York Times. 23 April 2012 Environment in Bangladesh
12
Interview, October 2011 32
Bangladesh Press Council, Bangladesh Press Councils
13
Skype interview, 8 February 2012 2009 Activities Report. Presentation to the World
Association of Press Councils, 5 February 2010
14
A.C. Nielsen, op. cit. 33
BTRC website: http://www.btrc.gov.bd/index.
15
Infoasaid, Bangladesh Media & Telecoms Landscape php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&It
Guide. 2012 emid=824. Accessed on 23 February 2012
16
Interview. Rezwan-ul-Alam, Director Outreach & 34
Interview, op. cit.
Communication, Transparency International
Bangladesh. Dhaka. 10 October 2011
35
Interview, 16 October 2011
17
Ibid.
36
The Right to Information (RTI) Act in Bangladesh was
passed on March 29, 2009
18
Zeenat Huda Wahid (undated). Emergence of Satellite
Television and Enigmatic Geo-Political Strategy of
37
Interview, op. cit.
Bangladesh Government 38
Interview, 16 October 2011
19
David Prosser, We didnt know people like me could 39
Journalism Training and Research Initiative:
ask questions like this: a dialogue in Bangladesh, http://www.jatribd.org/staticcontents/aboutus.
Governance Reform Under Real World Conditions, Accessed on 23 February 2012
Sina Ogdubemi and Thomas Jacobson (Eds.), World 40
Irum Shehreen Ali, Governance and the Media, CGS
Bank, 2008 Working Paper CGS WP3. Centre for Governance
20
David Page, BBC Media Action, Good Practice Note: Studies, BRAC University, December 2006
Participation, Accountability and Transparency: 41
Ibid.
Making media work for governance in Bangladesh, 42
Ibid.
2007
21
Freedom House, report on freedom of the press in
43
Interview, 14 October 2011
Bangladesh: http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/
44
Interview, 15 October 2011
freedom-world/2011/bangladesh. Accessed on 12 45
Interview, 17 October 2011
July 2012. In the system used by Freedom House to 46
Skype interview, op. cit.
chart political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL), a
rating of 1 represents the most free and 7 the least
47
Interview, op. cit.
free. In 2011, Bangladesh received a 3 for PR and a 4 48
Interview with respondent who preferred to remain
for CL. anonymous, October 2011
49
UNESCO. July 2009? (undated). Nagorik Media Forum 80
The 4,498 UPs are the lowest administrative unit in
launched in Bangladesh. http://www.unescodhaka.org/ Bangladesh, and each one groups about 20 of the
communication/freedom-of-expression/unesco- countrys 86,000 villages. Above the UP are 509
supports-creation-of-the-first-ever-citizens-media- Upazillas, then 64 Districts, and then 7 Divisions.
forum-in-bangladesh. Accessed on 5 December 2011 81
Interview, op. cit.
50
Interview, op. cit. 82
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 15 November 2011.
51
Interview, 17 October 2011 E-Service Centres Open in 64 Districts, 15 November
52
Interview, October 2011 2011: http://www.digitalbangladesh.gov.bd/blog.
php?ID=541. Accessed on 28 November 2011
53
Interview, 17 October 2011
83
See: http://www.digitalbangladesh.gov.bd/blog.
54
Editorial. Khaleda Zias Laudable Decision, Holiday
php?ID=438. Accessed on 6 April 2012
newspaper, 15 June 2012
84
Interview, op. cit.
55
Interview, op. cit.
85
See: http://www.nagorikkontho.org
56
Interview, op. cit.
86
David Page, Political Talk Shows & Accountability in
57
Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception
Bangladesh. BBC World Service Trust, December
Index (CPI) score relates to perceptions of the
2008
degree of corruption as seen by business people and
country analysts, and ranges between 10 (highly
87
Ibid.
clean) and 0 (highly corrupt). 88
Interview, op. cit.
58
Source: http://www.amadersthaniyosarkar.com/ 89
See: http://www.amadersthaniyosarkar.com/
59
Interview, op. cit. 90
Interview, op. cit.
60
Interview, op. cit. 91
Page, 2007, op. cit.
61
See: http:www.unheardvoice.net 92
Interview, op. cit.
62
See: http://bdbloggerz.blogspot.com 93
Interview with Patricia A. Hill, Press and Information
63
Interview, 14 October 2011 Office at the American Center, US Embassy, 17
October 2011
64
See: http://www.undp.org.bd/projects/proj_detail.
php?pid=87
94
Skype interview, op. cit.
65
Interview, op. cit.
95
Interview, op. cit.
66
The UK Parliaments International Development
Committee scrutinised DFIDs programme in
Bangladesh in 2009. The full report is located here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/
cmselect/cmintdev/95/9505.htm. Accessed on 27
November 2011
67
Ibid.
68
Economic Journalists Network: www.ejnet-bd.net/
about.html#Partnership%20between%20CCD%20
and%20Thomson%20Foundation. Accessed on 27
November 2011
69
UNESCO 2009, Dhaka Biennium Report 2008-2009
70
Interview, 10 October 2011
71
Skype interview, op. cit.
72
See: http://www.progatibd.org/index.
php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=
blog&id=32&Itemid=56
73
Interview, op. cit.
74
Skype interview, op. cit.
75
Interview, 17 October 2011
76
Interview, op. cit.
77
Ibid.
78
See: http://www.pathshala.net/controller.php
79
See: http:// www.amadersthaniyosarkar.com
This case study was prepared by Francis Rolt, an expert on radio and University of Bangladesh; Shahidul Alam, founder of Drik social advocacy
conflict transformation and founder of Radio for Peacebuilding (RPB). media group; Mahal Aminuzzaman, Danida Senior Programme Officer;
The author would like to thank all the people who gave their time, Alexious Butler, Director, Office of Democracy and Governance,
and answered questions, and to acknowledge the invaluable assistance USAiD, US Embassy, Dhaka; Manzoor Hasan, Advisor to the
received from BBC Media Action in Bangladesh, in particular: institute of Governance Studies at BRAC University; Patricia A. Hill,
Sheemtana Shameem, who arranged interviews, translated, and Press and information Officer, The American Center, US Embassy;
helped interpret information; Charlotte imbert, Country Director; Touffique imrose Khalidi, Chief Editor and Managing Director,
Sanjib Saha, Research Manager; and Mazharul islam, Head of Project bdnews24.com; Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Secretary, Ministry of
Governance. He would also like to thank Sadia Rahman at Drik who information, Dhaka; Robert Morini, Head of Press and Communications
arranged a phone interview with Shahidul Alam; and Jan and Andrew at the British High Commission, Dhaka; Hasibur Rahman Mukur,
Jenkins who were, as always, immensely hospitable and friendly. Executive Director of Management and Resources Development
initiative (MRDi); Syed Fahim Munaim, CEO Maasranga TV; Matiur
At Media Action in London, the author would like to thank:
Rahman, Editor, Prothom Alo; Asif Saleh, Director of Communications
James Deane, Director of Policy and Learning, who ultimately
(Chairs office), Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
commissioned the research; Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay, Policy
(BRAC); Shykh Seraj, Director & Head of News, Channel i.
Officer, who produced a useful Bangladesh literature review;
Rachael Borlase, Governance Advisor who has been invariably BBC Media Action is the BBCs development charity. The content
patient with my delays and difficulties; Kate Mitchell, Team of this briefing is the responsibility of BBC Media Action. Any views
Assistant, for editing support; and finally, but by no means least, expressed in this paper should not be taken to represent those of
Kate Noble, Senior Advisor Governance, who helped enormously the BBC itself, or of any donors supporting the work of the charity.
with the initial stages of the research.
This case study was prepared thanks to funding from the Swedish
Finally, the author is grateful to the following individuals who agreed international Development Agency which supports the policy and
to be interviewed: research work of BBC Media Action.
Fayaz Ahmed, Media Lawyer; Syed Badrul Ahsan, Executive Editor of Author: Francis Rolt
the Daily Star; Rezwan-ul-Alam, Director Outreach & Communication, Commissioning Editor: James Deane
Transparency international, Bangladesh; Dr. G.M. Shahidul Alam, Head Editor: Angela Hawke
of the Department of Media and Communications at the independent Designer: Lance Bellers
BBC Media Action (the new name for BBC World Service Trust) is registered in England & Wales
under Charity Commission number 1076235 and Company number 3521587.