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Media Freedom, Access of Information and Journalists Safety in Bangladesh

Presently, Mass Media is very much popular to all class readers, listeners and professionals in national and remotes due to rapid growth of media channels and promotions of communication, information and technology development. Media is now growing a glittering response from the juveniles and young generation, and have spaced among the peoples daily necessary items. The Mass-media of Bangladesh has played significant historic role in practicing and promoting democracy, governance and mass welfare cultural movement. Although the heavy pressure, threat of censorship and interference from the every ruling government and others, Media has stepped professionalism and neutrality efforts to prompt democratic movement for the last 40 years since the independence, Media has remarkable milestones in its long history. In general voice all the ruling mentioned that Media has enjoyed top freedom and sincere priority in delivering opinions as neutral voice and act as watch dog but in really it could not be possible to do the fair job. In general, it practices and sanguine that when the all elements of the state become passive and being controlled and showing polarized function, then the most alternative element Mass media plays third eye roles, state watch dog, stand beside the people as mass-voice. The every ruling party always imposes ruling attitudes by countering and semi controlling mentality against mass media to supervise as a favor media for them. The language of controlling was not peaceful or positive but it natured like torturing, psychological pressure, policy binding, filing case against the media house or Executives, Journalists. This controlling also includes movement and broadcasting principles, direct hindrance through using the police and the administration to assaulting and even extremely killing the journalists or concerns. However, the culture and practices is now recent has been shifted and changed a little positive but still in mind and practice not up to satisfactory to say the media is completely free and enjoy independence as mass speaker what intends to do. The trends of mass-media freedom and practices are vibrantly shaken as nature of up and downs in movement. The freedom is classified as name of event based, occasional and emergency led that is manipulated by ruling and the opposition’s welfare (political will). The people served media is not yet fully functional to keep up human rights, governance and democratic functions as freely, openly and no bounds manner but independency and freedom of choice is a significant matter of questions, there is unseen barriers, constraints of media broadcasting policy and political influence remains pushing to unstable of media freedom.

Journalists role to inform and aware of the people for keeping in decision making to any favor and disfavor situation to lead forwarding, creates scope to debate in the open forum, bringing issues to mass spectator’s attention. The steam rolling attitudes, interference and snatch-out the opportunity of mass people. Journalists are facing every moment on struggle, conflicts and obstacles to carry out their professional responsibilities and response, taking risks and shaking uncertain challenges even death. The free and fair journalism practice is a struggle and burning steps for the journalists to do in openly in any difficult situation, but it could be hope and anticipate that like as past, the present government could not able to control easily to stop the voice of media even that is not expected too. As during and after 1990,the abrupt shifting and changing of political platform and mass movement initiations, the media was relatively stand strongly and exposed independent working platform, where it has been achieved a lot on practice of freedom to disclosing news and views, identity and existence as a 4th pillar of the state. Although, the freedom and independency is not enough as desired in the area of availing democratic rights, practice governance and improving human rights specially journalist’s freedom and security measures from the policy makers and state key players. As a result, every year a number of journalists were tortured, inhumanely tapped, kidnapped and killed due to protesting of the anti government and disclosing the evil plans and motives, news and information sensitized to open mass (mass interest)which the last year the list was no exception.

According to national and international multi sources records and analysis of the reputed and circulated newspapers since the last May to December 2011, the pictures of journalist harassment was witnessed that about 211 journalists were insulted in 111 different events, among them 30 was threaten for killing or life threatening, 8 were harassed, 99 were wounded, 38 were accused of filing cases and 1 was killed brutally. The other analysis of national Dailies from Jan–April 2012 shows that 95 journalists were tortured, assaulted, harassed and committed injuries of 41 incidences where a journalist couple was also brutally assassinated(of course after 50 days passed, Judge court’s interrogates the event with Police Detective Branch department then it comes to handing over to Rapid Action Battalion for in-queries. The above scenario tells us the truth of media freedom, and the journalist’s safety and lives security. The trends of harassment and the severity of suffering is increasing day by day, month after months, at the same time the inclusive role, openness, promotion and movement of media is also extensively spread over by counter struggling(different dailies of Bangladesh preserved in MMC archive).
Regarding Information dissemination to people, right to Information Act (RTI) was ratified by the Government of Bangladesh in 2009 April 6, officially but it is not reach to people as yet as desired. The RTI act is transmitting to local level and designing the act to function in the bottom tiers of Local Government Institutions. The several GO and NGOs including the Information Commission are working relentlessly, to promote and execute RTI for the welfare of mass people especially RTI beneficiaries (pro poor and disadvantaged groups) in term of local level stakeholder service promotion. The media has signified the importance and prioritized the focus and privileged the news and articles in line with prompting and promoting line authorities and administration to reaching RTI act and related services to improve the right holders. The service providers are trained and push to functions on to execute RTI act properly and reaching to mass door. The electronic and print media is freely and independently supplement news and information regarding RTI promotion is admirable. The government shows positive and pioneer role in promoting and disclosing information at the beneficiary level through establishing citizen charter. Follow to that media has highlighted the RTI act and the citizen charter based information in the national and local media. The follow up and series of connecting reports, case stories and news were being published and disseminated.

The key issues to disclose information from the bottom departments and unit are still questionable. As the poor and marginalize have less scope and option to access in LGIs due to longer process (friendliness is absent), and mentality to keeping distance of the service providers. People have less awareness and knowledge regarding procedure and access of information to collection. Even it designs to receive Union Information Center services but it found that many of the poor were failed (20% receive information only about RTI) to collect information in due time and efficiently (10% less understanding the using of RTI act). In another study it shows that less than 3% people have been engaged to use RTI act for getting benefit (MMC-SDC Baseline Survey 2011). What it reflects that very few people actually benefited from RTI act application directly in the mean time. It shows in the study that about 14% grassroots people faced difficulties to collect information from the Local government institutions and the inner story is that most of them are not well aware of RTI application and it advantages as government institutions shows still backdated and conventional attitudes to disclosing information. Simultaneously, 20% Journalist mentioned that they faced longer time consume and indirect harassment to collect information from the LGIs. However, a number of GO and NGOs are intensively working to changing the conventionality and improving the linkages between service providers and service receivers through advocacy and media campaign in the grassroots level interventions.

Broadcasting channel and Community Radio Growth and Functioning: Recently, the private sector media channel is revolutionary growth and performance indicating the media promotion in the Bangladesh compare past. On 22 April 2010, the MOI of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has given approval for installing and operating 14 Community Radio Stations and for program broadcasting by those stations for the first time in Bangladesh. The country's first community radio named ‘Lokobetar’ has begun transmission on the last 27 May 2011 in the southern coastal district Barguna to build public opinion on development issues like democracy, good governance, education, agriculture, human rights, anti-corruption, health and women empowerment. Out of 14 stations, 10 stations have already been gone for broadcasting and another by a government agency. This approval is a strong step for empowering the rural people. The smooth flow of information and access to the media of large audience of Bangladesh is not yet ensured by the existing mass media. Without participation of the audience, the programs of existing electronic media became to a one-way communication channel for long time. Since 1998, Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) has conducted several countrywide campaigns with the view to establish community radio in Bangladesh. The organization has worked as a pioneer in this field in Bangladesh. At last, the government of Bangladesh formally announces the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008 on 12 March 2008. The Ministry of Information of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh invited very rapidly the applications for Community Radio installation, broadcast and operation from the interested organizations and 178 applications have been submitted from different organizations in this regard.
Yet Information is not freely or independently broadcasting due to constraint and limitation of the broadcasting policy and regulation. The national broadcasting policy is still not finalized. It is under processing to finalization and use for open to all. The presently draft broadcasting policy is implementing to supervise and operating the media channel and other broadcasting institutions and stations. The burdensome is that due to draft, the public, private and community led broadcasting organizations, stations and the channel do not fulfilling the demand and needs of the spectators and viewers. Although at present, the 14 TV channel, 4 FM radio stations, sky is opened and about 100 satellite channels are on offer and 14 CR stations have been offered broadcasting approval. More TV and radio channel are on card. The licensing and operation activities are ratified by the ministry of information at a draft basis. The organizations have full of regulations and principles of conditions to implement the broadcasting in a certain times and limitations. The RTI act is still interfering and hindrance due to draft policy. The draft policy is not permitting to organization in freedom and expression to care of the demands and needs of the audience as it is not give full direction. The honorable Minister Mr. Abul Kalam Azad mentioned in an inaugural session of free internet corner in National Public Library in Dhaka that the draft broad casting policy is given in the website for mass attentions, opinions and welcoming to receive suggestions and feedback from the experts. What is the essence reflected that the draft policy is waiting for long time to delaying the other relevant activities to completion. The neglecting attitudes and lengthy approach make other fruitful organizations and institution become passive and nonfunctional (idly sitting) like three tiers broadcasting institutions.

Incase of women positions and their involvement in the Media is an admirable growth, and progress to participate as professional by quantity and quality of promotion and benefiting at certain level but it is not up to mark. The trends are upwards but still struggling to reach the desired level. Previously the women representation in media mainly focused on glamour. At present, the scenario has been changed to some extent. Now the professionally skill and efficient women journalists are getting priority especially in the national level. More women journalists are getting involved with reporting including report on crimes even. The mindset of society and family are changing gradually. Women from local and grassroots level are even taking journalism as profession and some of them have got the scope to become involved with national level media (both in print and electronic Media). A number of female teachers are being involved with the Journalism Departments of different public and private Universities. Women Journalists have been placed in the policy level of different media houses as well. The presentation of women empowerment issue is quite positive. Yet, it is not even developing women policy in the media or the gender policy to implement. On the other hand, the mobility of women journalists has increased risks (mainly professional), harassment and competition on their part. The fragile security system of the society as well as state is making the women journalists even more vulnerable within a male dominated society. While presenting any news of women and women journalist harassment, gender equality is not being maintained. Women presentation in different advertisements, dramas, serials, movies etc. remains negative and sometimes even irrelevant (mostly in case of advertisements). Moreover, the national women development policy is not being implemented as the national mentality (from policy level to personal level) of our country has not become women-friendly yet.
The essence of political instability and political culture (polarization) in Bangladesh is render to protect and hamper the media freedom and created conflict for shaping the media freedom and solidarity. The recent and long past have been witnessed in several incidences of political instability and the political insurgency of media influences and media advising over news and event management is a concern to future movement of media freedom and independency. The present two major political parties have insignificance relation, dialogue and the outgoing hostility and jealousy manner made the state more vulnerable and uncertainty of peace and prosperity. The national and local media are sometimes polarized and sometimes created hostility attitudes between the two political parties as well as present ruling government has tried to supervising and advising the some media to advocate their will and woe. The presently media has captured influences over the state event like National and local level election campaign and monitoring. The strong involvement of media has potentially been brought out the significance outcomes specially the transparency and accountability of information and dissemination to right holders through their active involvement and promotional campaign.

The Media has strongly broadcasting the events but in somewhere some media are banned and stopped broadcasting by the ruling government ,which seems to be a evil attempt of the government and an obstacle of media freedom and independency. The government has played autonomy and autocratic actions to demolish and banning the BNP led political gathering called “Moha Somabesh” , A few cases stopped the live broadcasting, advising channel to follow their guidelines, The both parties have exhibited less patience in political culture, both are rivalry action, streaming and over hot to make the action burning through call hartal, strike and other non peaceful democratic approach as the mass destruction attempts were adopted and public property was burnt and demolished. The government has taken unfair action, illegal efforts to deployed police, own political agents and the administration for making the session corrosives and collusive to burn the peace and stability of people lives and prosperity. The most essential democratic power house the Songsad” The assembly” is not functioning by the opposite party; it is functioning unique party has created less interaction and non living discussion however they are trying. The national economy is facing fragility and unbalance shape, passing difficulties of growth and lean. The graph is declining the reserve is facing critical stages where the economist voice are warning and shaken the alarming situation. In overall the political culture and practices of the two political powers are non friendly, no cooperative, non developmental and jealous attitudes, completely showing power to physical fighting by adopting unpopular events exercising. In future the trends of political culture, political democracy and governance are going more ferocious, delicate and fearful. However, mass people are observing giving their reaction and suggestion to overcome the hostility through the strong involvement of media reflection.
In the concluding voice, it is highly anticipated to make the media free from all sorts of binding and constraints, make media voice more prompting to welfare based institutions. Avoiding all unwanted imposing, torture, banning and censorship from the ruling and oppositions political parties. It is sanguine, media voice acts for the poor and vulnerable to uplift their livelihood. Journalist’s pen as sword should be kept open against all evil attempts and ill power, and wishing to ensure their safe and security lives. Wishing World Press Freedom brings happiness for all journalists including the innocent journalists who were assassinated, sacrificed their glorious lives, played non compromising role for up-righting the journalist and media freedom (acknowledge to MMC for information archive).
MMC is working neutrally to raising people voices through mass interventions, developing networking among the patriots, eminent scholars and journalists. MMC making the Media popular to grassroots people through building their human capital, creating enabling environment to raising grassroots voice for uplifting democracy and strengthening the poor people voices. Decentralizing the media activities and empowering amateur journalists and their institutions, CBOs and Civil society organizations to supporting the mass media to enjoying freedom o choice, practice openly and changing the society in positive direction. We believe that since 1996 MMC is working with the nationwide Grassroots Journalists, fighting with corruption, unemployment, against racing and inequalities, and poverty through developing the decentralize voices. We welcome to support MMC for smoothing the process and assist us to reaching the anticipated goal.
Writer: Md, Shahidul Islam, Director, MMC

International Right to Information Day Celebration, 2007

It is our pleasure to invite you in the International Right to Information Day Celebration, which will be held on 28-30 September 2007 at LGED auditorium in Dhaka. Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, honorable former Chief Adviser, Caretaker Government has given his kind consent to be the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Wahid Uddin Mahmud, Economist, Prof. Khan Sarwar Morshed, Educationist and Dr. M Enamul Hoque, member, Law Commission have given their consent to be the special guests of the session. Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelly, President, BCDR would chair the inaugural session. Different sessions of three-days celebration would be chaired and participated by eminent lawyers, educationists, economists, media activists, bureaucrats and subject related experts as well. Your participation would be highly appreciated.

Rountable: The Scope of Right to Information Act & Its’ Long-term Impact'

Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) is going to organize a roundtable titled `The Scope of Right to Information Act & Its’ Long-term Impact' on 14th August 2007 at 9:30 AM at LGED auditorium. Govt. officials, Journalists of both print and electronic media, academics and the members of civil society will participate in this program. We would like to request you to enrich our program with your kind presence and valuable recommendations.

Brief Report on World Press Freedom Day ’07 Observation Program

Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) organized a two-days program at LGED Auditorium, Agargaon, on 3-4 May 2007 for observing World Press Freedom Day ’07. The program was funded by UNESCO and Manusher Jonno Foundation and 18 like-minded partners provided moral support as organizers. Souvenir, folder, poster and 6 types of stickers were printed and distributed among the grassroots people and participants of the program. Moreover, World Press Freedom Day ’07 was locally observed in 21 Districts throughout the country under the project titled “Ensuring Access to Information for Better Livelihood”, which is being conducted by MMC with the financial support of Manusher Jonno Foundation. A keynote paper on “Right to Information for Democracy and Good Governance : Possible Role of Caretaker Government” was presented In the local programs and general discussions were held on that very topic. Detail >>

Roundtable: The Role of Media for Ensuring the Voters’ Right to Know

We definitely need to have the right to information, and it should be open for all. We have to resist against the culture of secrecy and therefore investigative journalism should be strengthened. These are the thoughts outspoken in a Roundtable discussion titled `The Role of Media for Ensuring the Voters’ Right to Know, which was organized by Mass-line Media Centre-MMC on 18 March 2007 at LGED Auditorium, Dhaka. The meeting was presided over by Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Director, PPRC. Detail>>