Over the past few months, the Bangladesh media industry has experienced significant changes in management and leadership after the mass student uprising in August 2024, which led to the downfall of the Awami League government.
According to the report of the Media Reform Commission formed by the interim government, many top officials, including editors, have faced insecurity and job losses, and some have gone into hiding.
In November 2024, the interim government formed a "Media Reform Commission" with senior journalist Kamal Ahmed as its head.
The commission members include Professor Gitiara Nasreen from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, Shamsul Haque Jahid, editor of The Financial Express and representative of the Editors' Council, Akhtar Hossain Khan, secretary of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), Kamrunnesa Hassan, former official of Bangladesh Television, Anjan Chowdhury, president of the Association of Television Owners (ATCO), Syed Abdal Ahmed, former general secretary of the National Press Club, Fahim Ahmed, CEO of Jamuna Television and trustee of the Broadcast Journalist Centre, Jimi Amir, journalist and convener of the Media Support Network, Mostafa Sabuj, Bogura correspondent of The Daily Star, Titu Dutta Gupta, deputy editor of The Business Standard, and student representative Abdullah Al Mamun.
The commission submitted a nearly 180-page report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday, and Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy.
The Media Reform Commission has divided the media landscape of Bangladesh into six eras, which are: The legacy and new journey of an independent country, one-party rule and oppression of voices, the era of military rule, the return to democracy and liberalization of media, the era of lawlessness, and the post-student uprising period.
In the post-student uprising era, the commission observed a significant change in management and leadership in the media sector of Bangladesh.
The Media Reform Commission stated that, in the post-student uprising period, after the political shift, new leadership in these media outlets consisted of journalists known to support the BNP and Jamaat, who are long-time opponents of the Awami League.
According to the commission report, the owners of the ousted government's close media outlets have made these changes as a strategy to build relationships with the emerging political forces.
Mozammel Babu, CEO of Ekattor TV; Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj; Shakil Ahmed, chief news editor of Ekattor TV; and Farzana Rupa, special correspondent and talk show host of that channel, were arrested while attempting to leave the country and were later shown arrested in a murder case.
The main allegation against them is that they acted as collaborators of a fascist government, which is incompatible with the journalism profession. Instead of being journalists, they worked as party activists to suppress democratic movements and eliminate the protesters, according to the commission report.
However, the report also mentioned that the government has faced criticism for filing murder charges against these journalists, who were accused of inciting violence through provocative statements.
Several journalist rights organizations have criticized the murder charges against the detained journalists, arguing that while they may have made provocative statements, it does not justify a homicide case.
Apart from filing murder cases, freezing the bank accounts of certain media executives and journalists, and revoking press accreditation cards of journalists—these moves of the interim government sparked controversy, according to the report.
The report also mentioned that the government is trying to reissue press accreditation cards after scrutinizing them.
Referring to a recent survey conducted by the Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC), the commission report found that over 150 journalists working in television have been fired in the past year, with most losing their jobs after August 5.
According to another survey conducted by Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM), an organization of journalists working in foreign media, at least 31 journalists have been subjected to 27 attacks while performing their duties in the six months since August 5. This number gives a clear idea of the environment in which journalists work, according to the commission report.
However, after talking with several journalists and media outlets, the commission found leadership changes at 29 media outlets, including 16 TV channels, 11 daily newspapers, and two online news portals. However, no such changes were reported in private FM radio channels.
The commission report mentioned leadership changes in Ekattor TV, Nagorik TV, News 24, Kaler Kantha, Bangladesh Ptratidin, Banglanews24, ATN Bangla and ATN News, Independent TV, DBC TV, RTV, Baishakhi TV, Asian TV, Desh TV, Gazi TV, Shomoy TV, Mohona TV, Ekushey TV, Global TV, Pratidiner Bangladesh, Shomoyer Alo, Dainik Samakal, Dainik Jugantor, Desh Rupantor, Dainik Ittefaq, Bhorer Akash, Alokito Bangldesh, and Sarabangla.net.
The Media Reform Commission believes that removing one side and allowing another to take control of media institutions has temporarily harmed the industry.
However, the commission did not observe allegations of direct or indirect government interference in media management.
Due to political uncertainty and instability, many are practicing self-censorship, and there is a lack of monitoring of emerging political forces in the media, alleged the commission report.
