Media in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, there is no single state authority for all media and no nationwide portal that brings together every media service. Responsibilities are distributed among, among others, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Information (তথ্য অধিদফতর (PID)), the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the Bangladesh Press Council, Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, the Press Institute Bangladesh, the National Institute of Mass Communication, the Information Commission and the Copyright Office. Newspapers and news agencies require a declaration and registration before publication under the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act 1973. The District Magistrate is responsible for this. The Bangladesh Press Council operates under the Bangladesh Press Council Act 1974, protects press freedom and handles complaints about journalistic standards. The Code of Conduct for Journalists, Newspapers and News Agencies dates from 1993 and was amended in 2002. A complaint should be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Press Council and should identify the media outlet, the report, the reasons for the complaint, available evidence, the previous response or publication status, and a statement about the absence of parallel court proceedings. An appeal against rejection of a declaration may be filed within a maximum of 45 days; a maximum of 60 days is provided for an appeal against revocation. For online news portals, the PID conducts registration, renewal and tender procedures and maintains lists of registered portals and IP television services. Fees and processing times are not published uniformly for all procedures. Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts news and educational, health, information and entertainment programmes in Bengali and English. Its terrestrial service operates for approximately 17.5 hours per day and its satellite service for 24 hours; BTV states that it has two full television centres, 14 relay stations, and coverage of about 95 percent of the territory and 97 percent of the population. BTV also distributes content through web streams, apps, Facebook and YouTube. Bangladesh Betar uses AM, FM and shortwave and provides live services, apps, programme and news archives, listeners’ clubs, and feedback, complaint and information channels. Separate licensing routes apply to television reception, cable providers, signal transmission, distribution and foreign pay channels. The BTRC supervises, among other things, frequencies, satellites, landing rights and telecommunications infrastructure. Applications for cable and distribution permissions may be submitted through myGov or BTV and may require a recommendation from the district administration. Streaming remains platform-dependent and fragmented. BTRC documents distinguish between IP-based streaming services, IPTV and video-on-demand; for certain OTT or IoT services provided by internet service providers, Clause 20.3 of the ISP Guideline requires prior BTRC approval while new guidelines are pending. There is no documented uniform national catalogue, public access portal or general subscription price. Users generally need a suitable device, a data connection or broadband access and, depending on the platform, an account. Costs consist of an internet or mobile tariff and a possible platform fee. An older publication on One Country One Rate stated a maximum of 500 BDT per month for 5 Mbps, 800 BDT for 10 Mbps and 1,200 BDT for 20 Mbps; tariff notices from 2026 must be checked again before giving a current cost. Social networks enable publication, comments, reporting, social mobilisation and public information. No general licensing requirement for private social-media accounts has been documented; registration of an online news portal is not permission for every personal post. In addition to platform terms, current national legal bases apply, including the Cyber Security Act and the Personal Data Protection Act listed in 2026. The legal position remains dynamic because amendments to cybersecurity law were still under discussion in July 2026. Concrete deletion, reporting or criminal rules can therefore be assessed only against the law currently in force. Typical risks include misinformation, hate speech, bullying, harassment, harmful content and disclosure of personal data. There is no documented general statutory professional licence for journalistic work. The PID’s Press Accreditation Policy 2025 offers accreditation as proof of access, but does not establish a general right to practise the profession. The Press Accreditation Appeal Committee may be approached against withdrawal of accreditation. The Press Institute Bangladesh provides training for print, electronic and online journalists, including digital, mobile, data, photo, investigative, children’s and community-radio reporting. Applications may be submitted individually or through an institution or press club. The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism (PGDJ) programme of the National University lasts one year with two semesters and 40 credits, has 50 places, and most recently required a 600 BDT application fee and a 16,000 BDT course fee; dates may change, and attendance of 60 percent is required. The National Institute of Mass Communication also offers government communication training with online applications. Child protection combines media literacy, safe account settings, source checking, blocking and reporting problematic content, and support from adults or teachers. The BTRC provides resources for parental guidance and safe internet use. In a 2025 UNICEF Bangladesh U-Report survey of around 29,000 participants, approximately two-thirds described misinformation as a significant source of stress on social media; about one-seventh reported bullying or negative comments, 14 percent harmful or distressing content, and 17 percent feeling less safe online. A uniform nationwide statutory age limit for social-media accounts is not documented in the official sources reviewed. Access remains uneven; MICS 2025 reports that 72.1 percent of households have internet access at home. The Constitution protects freedom of thought, conscience, speech, expression and the press in Article 39. Restrictions may concern, among other things, state security, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency and morality, contempt of court, defamation or incitement. Article 43 protects communications and privacy subject to reasonable legal restrictions. Under the Right to Information Act 2009, Bangladeshi citizens may request information in writing, electronically or by email from the responsible authority. A response is generally due within 20 working days, or within a maximum of 30 working days when another authority is involved; a refusal should be communicated within ten working days. The appeal decision should be issued within 15 working days, after which a complaint may be filed with the Information Commission within 30 days. Information concerning life, arrest or release should be provided within 24 hours unless a statutory exception applies. The Copyright Act 2023 protects, among other things, literary, dramatic and musical works, sound recordings, films, radio and television content, and software. Registration is not mandatory, but may serve as evidence. Economic rights may be transferred or licensed; authors’ rights and economic rights must be respected. For specific uses, current fees and the applicable requirements of the Copyright Office should be checked. Participation is therefore possible through information requests, complaints to the Press Council, appeals, accreditation and registration procedures, feedback to BTV or Bangladesh Betar, and journalistic training. UNICEF U-Report provides additional participation data from young people but does not establish a legal entitlement.