Md. Saifullah
The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of thought and conscience and of speech as fundamental rights. The present democratic government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, firmly believes in freedom of press, as the fourth estate after executive, legislature, and judiciary to run the state-affairs. Article 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh lays emphasis on the freedom of press and uninterrupted flow of information excepting issues relating to sovereignty and integrity of the state. Following the spirit of the constitution, the government provides all-out support to the media and thus upholds freedom of expression of opinion in the society.
The present government is firmly determined to uphold the freedom of press as envisaged in the Constitution of Bangladesh. Accordingly, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina just after assuming office in 2009 enacted laws and rules on ‘Right To Information (RTI)’ and instituted the Information Commission. The government officials are now bound to provide information to the newsmen within the time frame stipulated in the law which is playing a vital role in maintaining transparency and accountability in running the government. Following RTI, there are assigned officials at each and every office to provide information to media people and others as they need. The number of such officials at the public and private offices all over the country is 42,254. Under the law, 1,19,831 individuals were served with the information as per their demand across the country during July, 2009 to December, 2020. The law has been proved so useful that the Information Commission has to dispose 2,218 cases relating to RTI out of 2,315 accepted for hearing since its inception. Punitive actions have been taken in such 62 cases. Many government officials have been punished for their negligence or failure in co-operating with the media professionals as per the RTI rules. The power of arresting journalists without court-warrant under the ‘Special Power Act’ has been ceased. The journalists in the country are now performing their job responsibilities without any fear. Stringent measures have been taken against the incident of attacks on journalists and online bloggers by the vested quarters and militants. Such attacks on media professionals have drastically reduced due to the government’s instant action of zero tolerance policy. The Press Council is working to resolve the disputes among the stakeholders of the media.
Newspaper owners can import tax free newsprint and other printing materials from abroad. On the other hand, they are bound by law to offer their journalists a salary package recommended by the wage board constituted by the representatives from the government, journalists and the owners. The government has already announced the Ninth Wage Board Award. The government is also contemplating to include journalists, camera-persons and other related support service staff in the private TV channels in the wage board. Imposing a ban on airing commercial advertisements in the downlinked foreign satellite TV channels and a control on the digital contents uploaded in the social media have greatly helped the flourishing of the local media. Income from the government advertisements and supplements also helped them attaining sustainability.
Digital Bangladesh Program, being implemented by the government has reinforced media industry to transcend new boundaries. Nationwide availability of electricity, high speed internet, smart phones, computers, laptops, television channels has contributed in bringing information at the finger touch of the people. The present democratic government is providing policy support by framing various laws and regulations. Amid those, the Right to Information Act 2009, the Cable Television Network Operation and Licensing Regulation 2010, the Private FM Radio Centre Installation and Operation Policy 2010, the National Broadcasting Policy 2014, the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Law 2014, and the National Online Mass Media Policy 2017 (amended in 2020) are noteworthy. To facilitate the media to be more people-oriented, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting following the agenda of the National Online Mass Media Policy, so far approved 85 online news portals and online news version of 92 established newspapers of the country. Registration of the approved online news services is going on under the supervision of Press Information Department. More online news media would be approved soon. The government has a plan to develop a new agency named ‘National Broadcasting Authority’ which would ultimately oversee the sprawling ecosystem of online media.
The government’s media friendly policy has fostered scores of newspapers to circulate across the country. According to information received from the Department of Films and Publications, there are over 700 media houses licensed to publish newspapers in the country. Of these, 560 are media houses are enlisted to publish dailies which includes 255 news dailies are published from the capital Dhaka. The Digital Bangladesh Program has pushed the electronic media to take a great leap forward. Along with the state run TV and Radio stations, the government has provided license to 45 private TV channels, 27 FM radio and 31 community radio stations. As per the official data, 31 TV channels, 22 FM and 17 community radio stations are now in transmission and the rest are taking preparation for launching. The inauguration of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 has strengthened media’s role to create impact in the country. All the TV channels of the country are being transmitted through Bangabandhu Satellite-1 at a subsidized rate. The plan of the government to launch Bangabandhu Satellite-2 would surely contribute more in this regard.
Both the print and electronic media enjoy full freedom in running their activities. Live TV programs like talk-show, discussion, and debate are very popular in the country. Noted personalities, politicians, intellectuals, educationists, journalists and even people in the grassroots level regularly participate in these live events and freely express their opinion. They most often go on rampant criticism of the government or of its activities without any censor. The government never interferes such free expression of opinion and views. Other electronic media even newspapers taking the advantage of 360 degree strategy also telecast such live participatory programs. The freedom of expression of opinion and also free flow of information have been strengthened with the widespread use of social media and smart phones. Presently, about 170 million mobile SIM card and 110 million internet users in the country show an immense potential of the non-traditional ‘neo-media’ in the society. Considering its importance, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to create a new wing named ‘Social Media Wing.’
In the truest sense, an era of free electronic media began in the country during the first tenure of Sheikh Hasina’s government (1996-2021) with the approval of the private TV channels for the first time in the history of Bangladesh. The broadcasting of the first private TV channel of the country, Ekushey TV, is a historically significant event. The subsequent BNP-Jamat led government propagated anti-mass media policy which ultimately stopped the transmission of the TV channel.
The Awami League government has taken necessary steps for grooming up equipped manpower for the ever expanding media industry of the country. The government periodically arranges training for the journalists across the country to raise their professional standards. The government has also taken steps to create the scope of higher education on journalism at various public and private universities. A large number of university graduates are now being absorbed in the media industry to sustain its growth appetite. The government has commissioned Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute in 2014 for developing skilled media people for the potential electronic media. To train and build skilled media professionals, the government has spent BDT 200 million for the expansion of Press Institute of Bangladesh and National Institute of Mass Communication. The establishment of 16-storied ‘Tothyo Bhaban’ that literally translates into ‘Information Building’ at a cost of BDT 1042 million caters the same purpose. The government has taken a project to develop a series of ‘Information Complex’ at the district level. And lastly, Press Information Department, a government agency directly working with the journalists in providing them with professional support, is going to open its offices at Sylhet, Barishal, Mymensingh and Rangpur Divisions.
If the journalists suffer from job insecurity in their own working environment in both print and electronic media it also imply a threat to the freedom of press. To ensure their job security, the formulation of the Mass Media Workers Act is at the final stage.
The formation of the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust is another epoch-making step to build a sustainable media industry. The trust, operating with generous support from the government has given BDT 178.7 million to 5,263 insolvent media professionals since 2011-12. In two Phases, BDT 36.6 million was provided to the distressed media professionals due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina donated BDT 100 million to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust for the victim of Covid-19 media professionals for the fiscal year 2020-21. The distribution of the fund is still undergoing.
The writer is a Senior Deputy Principal Information Officer at the Press Information Department of the Government of Bangladesh.
