BANGLADESH
Media Environment | News Gathering | Practical Tips
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Media Environment
Although the media is assured complete freedom under the Bangladesh constitution, journalists and media outlets have sometimes come under pressure from the government, political parties, Islamic militants and Maoist groups. Often this has taken the form of intimidation of journalists and defamation suits against editors, publishers and reporters. The government also exerts leverage through the selective placement of official advertisements which channels media spending toward approved outlets.
Media censorship became an issue in January 2007 when a military-backed ‘interim administration’ imposed emergency regulations which introduced sweeping powers to ban reports on sensitive political issues, to seize printed material and broadcast equipment and to impose long prison terms on those who violate the new norms. Scores of journalists have been detained and tortured for reporting on extra-judicial killings by the armed forces. Issues of foreign magazines carrying articles critical of the government have also had their distribution and sale stopped.
Bangladesh’s main broadcasters, Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television (BTV), the country’s only terrestrial television channel, are state-owned. Their coverage is favourable to the government of the day and gives little attention to opposition parties.
There are several privately run satellite and cable channels, including ATN, NTV, RTV, Channel One, BanglaVision and Boishakhi TV. The government retains control over the electronic media through licensing. Though popular in cities, private channels have failed to make an impact in rural Bangladesh, where BTV is dominant. Indian television channels are popular in Dhaka and other cities.
Despite the mass appeal of television, newspapers in Bangladesh have managed to hold their own with readership estimated at around 20 million. Some 250 dailies and 450 weeklies are published throughout the country, most in Bengali and the rest in English. All newspapers are privately-owned. Among the popular English dailies are the Daily Star (http://www.thedailystar.net), New Age (http://www.newagebd.com), New Nation (http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/09/30) and the Bangladesh Observer. Holiday (http://www.weeklyholiday.net) is a respected English-language weekly. The better known Bengali dailies include Daily Prothom Alo, Dainik Ittefaq and Dainik Jugantor.
Several newspapers have their own network of reporters across the country but most rely on two news agencies, the state-owned Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) (http://www.bssnews.net) and the privately-owned web-based bdnews24 (http://www.bdnews24.com/home.php).
News Gathering
It is not easy for foreign journalists to get a visa. High commissions and embassies must forward visa applications to the foreign ministry in Dhaka before they are approved.
There are no restrictions on travel across Bangladesh. However, travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) requires official permission. This is an area that is notorious for kidnapping — three foreign aid workers were abducted here in 2007 — and for political violence.
Bangladesh has several non-government organizations. They are a useful source of information provided one approaches them with a good reference. Dhaka has an Overseas Correspondents' Association, Bangladesh (OCAB), which is run by Bangladeshi correspondents for foreign media. Though not very active, the OCAB is a useful contact for visiting foreign journalists.
Fewer than one per cent of Bangladeshis have access to the internet. This is available in the larger towns, mostly through dial-up connections as broadband is expensive.
Practical Tips
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Travel within Bangladesh is most conveniently done by air. Road travel, particularly at night and outside Dhaka, is unsafe and self-driving is not advised. Hiring chauffer-driven cars is convenient and inexpensive in the major cities.
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Though the country is well connected by boat, this is a highly risky way of travel as vessels are often overloaded.
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Credit cards are not widely accepted in Bangladesh. Travellers’ cheques (preferably denominated in US dollars) can be exchanged at the airport and major hotels.
Contributor: Dr Sudha Ramachandran
Latest update: September 2008
