A new report on Bangladesh鈥檚 media landscape has highlighted that restrictive laws and political pressures continue to limit media freedom and trust in Bangladesh.
To address this, it recommended urgent legal and policy reforms to align with international standards, fair licensing and transparent state advertising, stronger protections and fair pay for journalists, credible self-regulation, gender equality in newsrooms and greater support for community and indigenous media.
The report also called for investment in professional standards and countrywide media literacy to rebuild public trust.
The United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, with the support from the embassy of Switzerland, on Thursday launched the report.
An assessment of Bangladesh鈥檚 media landscape: free, independent and pluralistic media, a comprehensive study examined both the challenges and opportunities facing Bangladesh鈥檚 media sector during this critical period of transition.
In response to Bangladesh鈥檚 recent political and social shifts, this joint assessment, undertaken between July and December 2024, offers a timely roadmap for meaningful reform to build a freer, more independent and truly pluralistic media environment.
Developed through extensive countrywide consultations with journalists, policymakers, civil society, academics and development partners, the report highlights entrenched barriers while pointing to practical pathways for positive, lasting changes.
Speaking as chief guest, information and broadcasting adviser Mahfuj Alam said that media must uphold ethics and accountability so that people鈥檚 trust was not broken again and generations were not wronged.
Attending the dialogue, Sonali Dayaratne, resident representative UNDP Bangladesh, said that a free, independent and pluralistic media was the foundation of any vibrant democracy.
鈥榃e are committed to working with partners like UNESCO to advance structural reforms, support media professionals and raise public awareness about the media鈥檚 vital role as a pillar of democracy,鈥� she further said.
Alberto Giovanetti, counsellor and head of political, economic and cultural affairs, embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, said that this assessment was a timely reminder that a free, independent and pluralistic media was the bedrock of a vibrant democracy.
鈥榃e thank the UNDP and the UNESCO for supporting this important initiative and urge all partners to advance the critical reforms needed to protect media freedom and strengthen public trust,鈥� Alberto Giovanetti聽said.聽
UNESCO representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize said, 鈥楩reedom of expression is a fundamental pillar of democratic institutions. If we want to build a society in which we work together towards the principles which realise basic human rights, and to guarantee quality of life, we must ensure that freedom of expression and the media is an essential part of this process.鈥�
Earlier Professor Joan Barata, senior legal fellow, Future of Speech, Vanderbilt University, United States, and Shameem Reza, professor, department of mass communication and journalism, University of Dhaka, presented the keynote paper on the assessment.
