ARTICLE 19 warns of threat to media freedom over 'rushed' ordinances
"The [interim] government’s sudden urgency after months of inaction [about the media commission’s reform recommendations] raises serious questions about motive and legitimacy"
ARTICLE 19 calls on the interim government to:
- Stop the enactment of the draft ordinances and defer all decisions to the next elected government.
- Commit to a transparent, inclusive consultation process with journalists, editors, civil society, and legal experts.
- Guarantee that any future media regulator is fully independent and free from executive control.
- Recognise freelance journalists under relevant laws and ensure equal protections.
- Align all reforms with international human rights standards, including Article 19 of the ICCPR.
- Ensure the safety and free movement of all journalists during the election period.
Rights organisation ARTICLE 19 has expressed grave concern over the interim government's move to establish a National Media Commission and a Broadcasting Commission through draft ordinances.
The organisation warned that this last-minute initiative, taken abruptly at the very end of the interim government's tenure, lacks transparency and threatens to undermine freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
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The global rights body highlighted that the government allowed only three days for public feedback on these far-reaching legislative proposals.
According to ARTICLE 19, the structure of the proposed National Media Commission would remain under direct government control, heavily influenced by bureaucratic authority.
"Such a design leaves the body exposed to political interference and falls far short of international human rights standards, including Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which requires media regulators to be independent, impartial, and free from executive control," the organisation added.
Exclusion of freelance journos
Beyond the issues of structural independence, ARTICLE 19 pointed out significant shortcomings in the ordinance's definitions.
Notably, the draft excludes freelance journalists from the legal definition of a "journalist".
ARTICLE 19 cautioned that this exclusion deprives a substantial segment of the media community of essential legal protections, accreditation, and safety measures, further weakening an already fragile media landscape.
The proposed Broadcasting Commission Ordinance mirrors these flaws, centralising state control rather than safeguarding pluralism or public-interest journalism.
The organisation questioned the sudden urgency of the government, noting that the Bangladesh Media Reform Commission had submitted its report nearly a year ago, on 22 March last year.
The interim government took no meaningful action on those recommendations for months, leading to public frustration from the reform commission members themselves.
"The government's sudden urgency after months of inaction raises serious questions about motive and legitimacy," they said.
The move has drawn similar criticism from the Editors' Council, providing a broader context of professional dissent.
In a statement, the council termed the hurried publication of these draft laws as "undesirable and illogical" given that the national election is scheduled for 12 February.
Immediate halt
With the 13th national election approaching, ARTICLE 19 urged the interim government to immediately halt the enactment process.
The rights group insisted that far-reaching decisions of this nature should be left to the incoming administration, which will hold a fresh democratic mandate.
They called on the Yunus-led interim government to commit to a transparent consultation process and ensure that any future regulator is fully independent and free from executive control.
The organisation also stressed the need for any new laws to align with international standards and to ensure the safety and free movement of all journalists during the upcoming election period.
ARTICLE 19 maintained it stands with Bangladesh's media community as it urged the interim government to uphold transparency, independence, and human rights in all media-related reforms.
