Bangladesh Journalists Rights' Forum-BJRF

Public and Private Broadcasting Sector in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects
Written by Mr. Bhanu Ranjan Chakraborty
Intake Editor
Ekushey Television
Dhaka, Bangladesh
30 November 2003

Background

The public broadcasting sector in Bangladesh has been misused as a propaganda tool of vested interests of the ruling party in powers. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television were established with the primary aim of rendering public service for the transmission of news and entertainment. But both institutions were from the very inception, devalued by political appropriation, overt censorship and restraints of due process.

The Awami League government constituted a 16-member 'Commission for Framing Rules and Regulations for the Autonomy of Bangladesh Television (Radio-TV Autonomy Commission)' in September 1996. It submitted its report to the Prime Minister in August 1997, recommending "full autonomy" for Radio and TV. However, the government kept secret the content of the report. It did not even spell out its plan of action to follow up the Commission's costly exercise. Instead of formation of a National Broadcasting Commission as recommended by the autonomy commission, the government is now planning to form two separate authorities and government itself would appoint members of those bodies. Each authority would have a chairman with some Members to assist in running the affairs of the two public broadcasting agencies.

Under the two draft laws approved by the cabinet-Bangladesh Betar Authority Act, 2001 and Bangladesh Television Authority Act, 2001, the government can sack the chairman of both the authorities without giving any reason. On 7 May 2001 the parliamentary cabinet approved two draft laws seeking to grant autonomy to Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television. It was one of Awami League's foremost electoral pledges in 1996 to give autonomy to the electronic media. The draft law, which will now be sent to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for vetting, is taken to be tabled in the coming budget session of the 'House of the Nation' (Jatiya Sangsad) destined to be the last session of the 7th Parliament In Bangladesh TV/ Radio journalism is almost new. In last five years, as many as four private TV channels have been launched. Now three TV channels are broadcasting news. Some more channels are in the offing. More than two hundreds journalists are now working in the private TV channels in Bangladesh. About 50 people are working in the news section of state-owned TV stations.

One private radio station namely Metro Wave has been operating for last four years (from July 1999). But the electronic media of Bangladesh (both private and public) are operating under some regulations those are problematic for journalists and media freedom.

Common problem
The main problem for the public sector electronic media is the bureaucracy. Journalists of state-owned Radio/ Television are compelled to do all things according to the government decision. Govt. decision comes from PM office, Information Ministry and also from different powerful ministers’ offices. Journalists can not do their job independently and professionally. Therefore professionalism is absence there.

Recruitment Policy
Reporters and producers are recruited in the state-owned television newsroom on contact basis. It is observed that the ruling party use to give the appointments to its own people through information ministry. And the journalists perform their duties according to the decision made by the authorities. Sometime directives also come from ruling party or parties Promotions and demotions depend on the likings and disliking of the authorities. Some shorts of ethical guidelines are there but those are not also followed properly.

Editorial independence
Editorial independence is absence there. The editors and producers can not act professionally. They only carry out the government decisions. Regarding news treatment the editors’ act according to the government decision. Editorial policy is made by the government/ ruling party only to serve its own interest.

Fund
Money is no problems for the public sector radio/TV stations. Money comes from government funds. Advertisements make huge money for the broadcasting authorities. State-owned Radio/ TV also earn money from license fee. But the private sector Radio/ TV stations earn money only from advertisements. This is why private sector Radio/ TV stations try to present good programs and news bulletins.

Working condition
Working condition is not good enough due to bureaucratic attitude of authorities. No job security. Journalists face dismissal when the government is changed. Workers’ economic condition is not good. They are not well paid. They are less paid than in commercial broadcasters. Journalists do not get pension after their retirement. On the other hand the working condition in the private sector Radio/ TV offices is little bit good. Journalists can enjoy some sorts of freedom. They are allowed to perform their duties independently under some editorial guidelines. Although they face pressure from different sections, they try to discharge their duties professionally. Now three private TV channels are broadcasting news in Bangladesh. But the people who are working for TV news are not properly trained up. Although there are some journalists’ training institutions in Dhaka, but higher training facilities for TV journalists are not there.

Use of Equipment
Quality of equipment is good enough but those are not properly used. As a government institution the public sector radio/ TV authorities have the ability to purchase new model equipment. At present digital equipment is being used in public sector Radio/ Television station. But the journalists, workers and technicians are not properly trained. Union Activities in the public sector broadcasting centers no union activities is allowed. In public sector Radio/Television stations newsmen work like government officials. They have no right to run union activities here. Journalists of the state-owned Radio/Television station should come forward to organize union body to protect their job and ensure their rights. Other journalists’ organizations should support these activities.

Management System
The management is not always cooperative public sector Radio/ Television stations. Management is also eager to implement the government decisions. But in the private sector Radio/ Television stations the managements are more cooperative to the journalists. These journalists use to get more logistic facilities from the managements. This is why they are performing better. In this situation the management in public sector Radio/ Television stations should come forward with a professional mind to make the news section a dynamic one.

What is to be done?
To address the problems of journalists in state-owned Radio/ TV station the journalists’ organizations, the civil society and NGOs should come forward. They should raise voice to help build a congenial atmosphere in the newsroom so that journalists can discharge their duties properly and professionally. It is mentionable that the journalists of the private sector Radio/ Television stations also face different problems. Uncertainty of job is often there. They face different pressures from different powerful section of the society. So united effort is essential to address those problems. All the working journalists should be united. United efforts can resolve the issues contrary to the democracy and professionalism. International journalists’ organizations can help make a broadcast journalists’ body so that they can address there problems and raise their voice for the betterment of the society.