Media & Press

Bangladesh, like many other nations, has been impacted by the ongoing economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. However, there are a few reasons why the nation may be struggling to combat the recession;

Limited resources: Bangladesh is a developing country and may not have the same resources as more developed nations to deal with the economic recession. This can make it more difficult for the government to implement large-scale stimulus measures and other economic policies. Dependence on foreign markets: Bangladesh has a strong export-oriented economy and is heavily dependent on foreign markets. The global economic downturn has led to a decrease in demand for Bangladesh’s exports, which has had a negative impact on the country’s economy….read more

‘সহজ কথা ঠিক ততটা সহজ নয়’ শঙ্খ ঘোষের সঙ্গিনী কবিতার জনপ্রিয় এই বাক্যের মর্ম তখনই বুঝতে পারবে কেউ যদি সে সাংবাদিকতায় অর্থনৈতিক বিষয়কে নির্বাচন করে তাও আবার টেলিভিশনের জন্য। মূলধারা টেলিভিশনগুলোতে ব্যবসা বা অর্থনৈতিক সংবাদ পরিবেশনের জন্য নির্দিষ্ট বুলেটিন থাকে। যেখানে একজন বিজনেস রিপোর্টার নিয়মিত মাঠ থেকে তথ্য এনে তা সংবাদ আকারে পরিবেশন করে আসছেন। ওই সংবাদ বা নিউজগুলো কিন্তু অন-এয়ার হয় দিনের অন্যান্য বুলেটিনেও। 

তবে সবমিলিয়ে সেই সংবাদটি যাকে টেলিভিশনের ভাষায় প্যাকেজ বলে অভিহিত করা হচ্ছে তা থাকে সবোর্চ্চ ২ মিনিট ৩০ সেকেন্ড, স্ক্রিপ্ট লিখতে হয় সবমিলিয়ে সবোর্চ্চ ২২০ শব্দে, অনেক প্রোগ্রামভিত্তিক টেলিভিশনে এখন উপস্থাপিকার লিংক পার্ট ধরে ১৮০ শব্দ। মুস্কিল হলো, ওই সময়ের মধ্যে অর্থনীতির মতো রসকষহীন বিষয়গুলো যেমন মূল্যস্ফীতি, মুদ্রাস্ফীতি, প্রবৃদ্ধির মতো শতশত অর্থনৈতিক সূচকগুলোর ব্যাখা ফুটেজ (ছবি) দিয়ে, তার সংখ্যা ও হিসাবগত বিশ্লেষণ গ্রাফিক্স আকারে, সংশ্লিষ্টদের মতামত তুলে ধরতে হবে যা রীতিমতো চ্যালেঞ্জের। ….read more

Creating a stimulus package for the agriculture sector struck by Covid-19’s fallouts was the right move, but its amount was insufficient, eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya has said.

He said cash incentives are more effective than stimulus given in the form of debt because marginalised farmers find it difficult to get loans and overcome bureaucratic complexities.

“That is why giving farmers Tk2,500 each during the pandemic played a special role,” said Dr Debapriya at the shadow parliament organised by Debate for Democracy at the Film Development Corporation in the capital’s Tejgaon on Monday.  ….read more

DHAKA – Hundreds of Bangladeshi journalists took to the streets Thursday to protest against a new digital security bill that campaigners say would damage media freedom in the country.

The Digital Security Act 2018 approved by the cabinet this week would mean a journalist could be convicted of espionage for entering a government office and gathering information secretly using an electronic device, an offense that would carry a 14-year jail sentence.

It also provides for a life sentence for spreading “negative propaganda” about the country’s war of independence or its founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman using a digital device.

Media rights groups including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have already condemned the bill, which parliament has yet to vote on.

“(The) IFJ believes the proposed act provides more grounds to grossly misuse the provisions to harass journalists and restrict freedom of expression,” the Brussels-based group said….read more

The Daily Star journalist Rashidul Hasan yesterday received Nagad- Dhaka Reporters Unity Best Reporting Award-2021 in the crime and law and order category. A total of 22 journalists — 13 under the print and online category and nine under the television and radio category — received the award at a ceremony at Krishibid Institute auditorium in Dhaka.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury handed over the awards to the winners. Each awardee received a certificate, crest and Tk 75,000 prize money…..read more

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday said two vital ministries have started working jointly to ensure supply of key essential items including onion through offsetting a production gap in a bid to check their unusual price hike in the market. “We have already formed a joint working committee to prepare a plan of action aiming to mitigate the production shortfall of key agricultural produce at domestic level,” he added. The two ministries — commerce and agriculture — sat on Sunday to discuss necessary course of action to this effect, the minister said while speaking as the chief guest at an award giving ceremony organized by Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) in the city….read more

Hundreds of Bangladeshi journalists took to the streets Thursday to protest against a new digital security bill that campaigners say would damage media freedom in the country.

The Digital Security Act 2018 approved by the cabinet this week would mean a journalist could be convicted of espionage for entering a government office and gathering information secretly using an electronic device, an offence that would carry a 14-year jail sentence. It also provides for a life sentence for spreading “negative propaganda” about the country’s war of independence or its founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman using a digital device. Media rights groups including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have already condemned the bill, which parliament has yet to vote on….read more

The High Court on Sunday asked the Ekattor Television authority to explain on January 17 its position over broadcasting the interview of wanted accused Prashanta Kumar Halder in a live talk-show on December 28, 2020.

The online bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim asked Ekattor TV to appear before it on January 17 and ‘deliver statements personally or submit written statements by appointing lawyers through affidavits or verbal statements’…..read more

The High Court (HC) on Sunday asked Ekattor Television authority to explain by January 17 why the court would not take contempt of court charge for on airing interviews of fugitive accused Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder in a talk show, who allegedly embezzled Tk 3,600 crore from some financial institutions.
PK Halder, former managing director of NRB Global Bank, is a fugitive accused in a money laundering case.
After submitting a video footage by the Ekattor TV to the HC through its Registrar Md Golam Rabbani the bench issued the order saying that it would not pass any order on the application seeking contempt proceedings against the television authority without hearing it.
The virtual HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim issued the order after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and State prayed for issuing contempt proceedings against Ekattor Television chief executive officer Mozammel Haque Babu and five others.
The authorities concerned of the Ekattor TV channel have been ordered to submit their explanation in person or through a lawyer before the HC bench on January 17.
The bench fixed 12:00pm on January 17 for further hearing on the issue.
During the hearing, the HC said that media and journalists have a very important role to play in eradicating all kinds of corruption. The court and judges alone cannot do it…..read more

Bangladesh Agricultural Journalist Forum (BAJF) gets new committee for the time period 2021-2022. Daily Prothom Alo Senior Reporter Golam Iftekhar Mahmud elected as President and Daily Bonik Barta Deputy City Editor Shahanuare Shaid Shahin elected as General Secretary.
The biannual general meeting was held at the BARC training auditorium on Saturday (June 26, 2021). Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque was the chief guest of the programme. Dainik Jugantor Editor and former president of National Press Club Saiful Alam, DAE former DG Md. Hamidur Rahman, ERF general secretary S M Rashidul Islam were special guest at the programme.
Other Committee members are Vice President MA Jalil Munna from Daily Ittefaq and Yasir Wardad from The Financial Express, Joint Secretary Zahir Munna from Chanel i and Emdadul Huq Tuhin from sarabangla.net, Organize Secretary Abu Khalid from dhakapost.com, Assistant organize Secretary Rokon Uddin Mahmud from Daily Kaler Khantho, Treasure from Daily sun A. N. M. Mohibub Uz Zaman.
Publicity secretary Md. Mofizul Islam from Banglanews24.com, Office secretary Md. Al Amin from Sokaler Somoy, Publication secretary Zahidur Rahman from Daily Samakal, Research secretary ….read more