Kamal Ahmed, the head of the Media Reform Commission, has said that media ownership, when concentrated in a single entity, is often used for personal, familial, or group interests, which can be prevented by making media organizations publicly listed companies.
Therefore, the commission has recommended that large and medium-sized media outlets should transition into public-listed companies.
He made these comments on Saturday afternoon, after handing over the Media Reform Commission’s report to the chief adviser at the state guesthouse Jamuna.
Kamal Ahmed said: “For those who own television channels and major newspapers, the key question is how much public interest is reflected in their ownership. They are not held accountable in any way. While we demand accountability from politicians and bureaucrats in the media, where is the accountability of the media itself?"
He questioned: "One newspaper criticizes the owner of another newspaper, but where is the accountability in that? Is it a matter of public interest or merely personal rivalry?"
He added: "We have carefully examined these issues. Many countries have laws governing media ownership. In the United States, cross-ownership is not allowed, meaning a television channel owner cannot own a newspaper."
He further added: "India is also considering such a law. In Indonesia, media organizations must operate as corporations and be publicly listed companies. This system has advantages—audited financial statements must be published annually, and employees of the organization receive profit shares.”
Noting that the current state of the media did not emerge overnight but is the result of longstanding practices and transformations, Kamal said: "Over time, journalism has faced an increasing crisis, affecting press freedom and journalists' independence. The commission reviewed historical developments to identify past mistakes and find the best ways to rectify them."
"We considered newspapers, television, online portals, and radio, acknowledging that each sector has different challenges, but journalism itself faces common problems across all platforms."
Kamal further said: “A significant issue in Bangladesh’s media sector is the influx of undisclosed or illicit funds. Ownership has become a major problem, with little transparency regarding how individuals acquire media ownership."
He added: "Licences for media organizations were not issued through an open or competitive process but rather through behind-the-scenes dealings, political connections, or other non-transparent means. Similarly, the registration of online portals was not carried out transparently. As a result, a crisis has developed in the industry."
He also said: "Even after a change in government, media owners have remained the same, although they have replaced newsroom leadership and editorial teams to align with the political forces they believe will gain power. However, these owners have never been required to disclose the sources of their investments—whether they are tax-paid funds or untaxed money.”
He pointed out that many television licences were issued based on political commitments rather than public interest. “Those affiliated with the Awami League sought television channels to promote the party’s ideology and digital vision. There was no consideration of public interest,” he said.
On November 18, the interim government issued a gazette notification forming an 11-member Media Reform Commission to make the media sector more independent, robust, and objective. Senior journalist Kamal Ahmed was appointed as the commission’s head.
