Media licences were issued considering political identity: Reform commission chief | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
July 08, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JULY 08, 2025
Media licences were issued considering political identity: Reform commission chief

Bangladesh

BSS
22 March, 2025, 07:30 pm
Last modified: 22 March, 2025, 07:42 pm

Related News

  • Committee formed to ensure autonomy of BTV, Bangladesh Betar
  • BSW System: Over 3 lakh certificates, license, permits issued automatically since Jan
  • Media Reform Recommendations: Better pay and ownership control sound good on paper. But how do you implement it?
  • Media Reform Commission's recommendations to be implemented for journalists' benefit: Adviser Mahfuj
  • Govt to act on immediate media reforms: CA Yunus

Media licences were issued considering political identity: Reform commission chief

About the media boom in Bangladesh, Kamal Ahmed said black money was injected into Bangladesh media, saying, "We know those who become the owners of media but we do not know how they have become media owners"

BSS
22 March, 2025, 07:30 pm
Last modified: 22 March, 2025, 07:42 pm
Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed addresses a press briefing outside the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on 22 March 2025. Photo: Screengrab from video
Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed addresses a press briefing outside the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on 22 March 2025. Photo: Screengrab from video

Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed today (22 March) said media licences were given considering the political identity of media owners during the deposed regime.

"Licences for televisions and newspapers were not given in open and transparent ways. The licences of online news portals were also not issued in an open and transparent manner. The licences were given in collusion and based on political identity [of media owners]," he told a press briefing outside the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the Media Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus at Jamuna, which is the CA's official residence.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Kamal, a senior journalist, said there was no issue of public interest in issuing media licences as those were given considering political identity.

About the media boom in Bangladesh, he said black money was injected into Bangladesh media, saying, "We know those who become the owners of media but we do not know how they have become media owners".

Nat'l media commission, new laws recommended to protect journo rights

Highlighting the works of the Media Reform Commission, Kamal said the interim government formed the commission on 18 November last year and it has completed its task within 100 days.

In preparing its report, he said, the commission held meetings with stakeholders including journalists and media owners, and exchanged views with about 1,400 people across the country.

The present state of media was not created in a day, he said, adding that the freedom of the press and journalists has fallen into a deep crisis due to long malpractice in media.

In this context, he said the commission reviewed the history of Bangladesh journalism and tried to find out the problems the journalists face and solutions to these problems.

"We tried to take lessons from history and follow the international best practices in journalism," he added.

About the change in the media landscape in Bangladesh after 5 August 2024, Kamal said although the Awami League government was toppled, media owners did not change but the leaderships of newsmen were changed.

Govt to act on immediate media reforms: CA Yunus

Observing that there is no accountability of media owners in Bangladesh, he said no media owner disclosed the sources of his or her investment in media.

Referring to the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission, he said they recommended the government enact a law to ensure the safety of journalists.

He said the commission suggested establishing a permanent National Media Commission.

Mentioning that the reform commission has given about 20 recommendations, Kamal said they proposed providing an entry-level journalist with the salary and allowances equivalent to that of a nine-grade BCS officer.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and other reform commission members were also present at the press briefing.

Top News

Media Reform Commission / Kamal Ahmed / licence

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    35% US tariff to be disastrous for Bangladesh's exports, say economists and exporters
  • Graph: Reuters
    Trump sends letter to Yunus imposing 35% tariff on Bangladeshi products
  • Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen pays courtesy call on the leaders of BNP at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on 8 July 2025. Photo: Courtesy
    Chinese ambassador pays courtesy call on BNP leaders

MOST VIEWED

  • The Mitsubishi Xpander is built with families in mind, ready to handle the daily carpool, grocery runs, weekend getaways, and everything in between. PHOTO: Akif Hamid
    Now made-in-Bangladesh: 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander
  • Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS Creative
    World’s largest container shipping companies
  • Representational image
    Dhaka gets relief as Trump pushes tariff deadline to 1 Aug
  • A quieter scene at Dhaka University’s central library on 29 June, with seats still unfilled—unlike earlier this year, when the space was overwhelmed by crowds of job aspirants preparing for competitive exams. Photo: Tahmidul Alam Jaeef
    No more long queues at DU Central Library. What changed?
  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/TBS Creative
    Inflation drops below 9% after 27 months
  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/TBS Creative
    Young population believe BNP to get 39% of votes, Jamaat 21%, NCP 16% in national polls: Sanem survey

Related News

  • Committee formed to ensure autonomy of BTV, Bangladesh Betar
  • BSW System: Over 3 lakh certificates, license, permits issued automatically since Jan
  • Media Reform Recommendations: Better pay and ownership control sound good on paper. But how do you implement it?
  • Media Reform Commission's recommendations to be implemented for journalists' benefit: Adviser Mahfuj
  • Govt to act on immediate media reforms: CA Yunus

Features

Dr Mostafa Abid Khan. Sketch: TBS

Actual impact will depend on how US retailers respond: Mostafa Abid Khan

1h | Economy
Thousands gather to form Bangla Blockade in mass show of support. Photo: TBS

Rebranding rebellion: Why ‘Bangla Blockade’ struck a chord

17h | Panorama
The Mitsubishi Xpander is built with families in mind, ready to handle the daily carpool, grocery runs, weekend getaways, and everything in between. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

Now made-in-Bangladesh: 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander

1d | Wheels
Students of different institutions protest demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular cancelling quotas in recruitment in government jobs. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

5 July 2024: Students announce class boycott amid growing protests

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Trump-Netanyahu agree on blueprint for Gaza evacuation

Trump-Netanyahu agree on blueprint for Gaza evacuation

7m | TBS World
Trump imposes 35% tariff on Bangladeshi products

Trump imposes 35% tariff on Bangladeshi products

2h | TBS World
Much of Iran’s Military Capacities Still Unutilized, General Warns Israel

Much of Iran’s Military Capacities Still Unutilized, General Warns Israel

15h | TBS World
How Trump's tariff chaos could reshape Asia's businesses

How Trump's tariff chaos could reshape Asia's businesses

5h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net