study report state of press freedom in bangladesh 2014 · data analysis and presentation: a....

State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh 2014 1

Study Report

State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh 2014

Conducted by

Research Team of IIMEJ

Duration:

January to December, 2014


Media Monitoring Report

State of Press Freedom of Bangladesh 2014

Introduction:

Media have been playing inevitable role in the world and Bangladesh as well. The role of media

and its impact on the society became prominent since the restoration of democracy after 90s.

But the way of journey of the press is not always smooth. The institution is going forward facing

different challenges in everyday. These experiences contributed Bangladeshi media to achieve

spirit, strength and skill through working various socio-political and cultural dynamics. It is

always expected that media will get enabling environment to work for society and culture.

Bangladesh as a transition society has many vested interest groups who want to suppress the

voice of the media. It’s continuous phenomenon for Bangladeshi media. Media are still now

facing different hurdles/barriers to enjoy their freedom as it was the previous days.

International Institute of Media & E-Journalism (IIMEJ) has conducted a media monitoring on

the state of press freedom 2014. Under this study IIMEJ monitored 12 national dailies’ contents

on press freedom issues and collected 3714 newspaper clippings in this regards. Then the

research team categorized the collected news clippings into 10 sub-titles i.e. Journalist Killing,

Kidnapping, Attack/Physical Assault, Threat, Harassment, Case, Arrest, Ban, Licensing and

Conflict among Media Houses and analyzed the data.

Specific Objectives:

Assessing the number of victims;

Finding out identity;

Indentifying reasons of different oppressions;

Mapping the legal progress;

Role of journalists community;

Finally, analyzing the trends

Methodology:

Under this monitoring initiative the research team scanned the news related to press freedom

of the 12 major dailies published from Dhaka in 2014. These selected newspapers were- Daily


Star, New Age, Prothom Alo, Kaler Kantha, Ittefaq, Jai Jai Din, Amar Desh, Amader Shomoy,

Naya Diganta, Samokal, Jugantor, and Janakantha. According to the latest Report of

Department of Film and Publishing (DFP) of Bangladesh Government, the top twelve circulated

newspapers have been selected as sample. The research team monitored the newspapers

published from January to December 2014. A team of data collectors has worked for gathering

the data of this project from the digital archive of IIMEJ. The research team of IIMEJ organized

orientation for the data collectors. They also consulted and verified hardcopy of the newspaper

to make sure the authenticity of the data. Subsequently the team has developed a coding sheet

for analyzing the content of the newspaper through a consultative process. After collecting this

data the team organized the contents into ten major thematic areas for presentation.

Data Analysis and Presentation:

A. Journalists Killing:

Beneath the table depicts the killing of three journalists murdered in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Chuadanga in 2014. All the journalists were assassinated following professional conflict. They

are known as Shah Alam alias Molla Shagar, Staff Correspondent of Daily Oporadh Damon

(March 5, 2014), Delowar Hossain, Staff Correspondent of Daily Bhorer Pata (March 11, 2014)

and Sadrul Alam Nipun, Correspondent of Daily Matha Vanga (May 11, 2014).

Table-1: The State of Journalists Killing in 2014

No. Journalists Killed Reasons of Killing Accused 1 Shah Alam alias Molla Shagar,

Staff Correspondent of Daily Oporadh Damon, Uttara, Dhaka

Planned killing following a news.

A principal of a college.

2 Delowar Hossain, Staff Correspondent, Daily Bhorer Pata

Killed by local miscreants following a report publishing in his newspaper

A group of miscreants

3 Sadrul Alam Nipun, Correspondent of Daily Matha Vanga

Underground terrorist group stabbed him to death. Police admitted that there was a reason of journalism behind this murder.

Underground terrorist group


Table-1.1: The State of Journalists Killing in 2014

Regarding the journalist killing, police had taken measures in the case of two killings while no

steps were taken for another one though cases were filed in each killing as the table reveals.

Ministry of Home Affairs considered the case of Sadrul Alam as one of the most important case.

But any other follow-ups or developments regarding the killings were not found throughout the

year.

Police Measures Role of Journalists Community

Reactions Legal Process

Police arrested three miscreants while others absconding.

Signature campaign, protest rally, mourning procession and submission of memorandum, human chain, expressed solidarity TV Camera Man Association, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka; Union of Journalists (DUJ) expressed concern.

Finance Minister & Sylhet City mayor mourned for the killing.

Ministry of Home Affairs considered the case as one of the most important cases. But any other follow-ups or developments weren’t found throughout the year.

Seven people had been arrested.

Information minister, BNP chairperson and Jamat-e-Islami mourned for the killing.

A case was filed in Turag thana by his brother.

No one arrested Not found Monir’s elder brother filed a case.

No steps Not found Hasan’s wife Jharna filed a general dairy after missing and filed cases after killing.

A. Journalists Kidnapped

The table elucidates the kidnapping of four journalists including a child journalist in Dhaka,

Shariatpur, Comilla and Kurigram. It is also found from the table that one journalist that of

Kamran Karim was kidnapped because of broadcasting reports on war criminals issues and

activities of Jamat-e-Islami while the other two were kidnapped for personal conflict and

ransom and the cause for the rest one was not found. The newspaper contents also reveal that

local terrorists are the accused for the kidnappings.


Table-2: State of Journalists Kidnapping in 2014

No Identity of Journalists Reasons Accused

1 Kamran Karim, senior reporter of

Boishakhi TV, Dhaka City

Covering reports on war

criminals and activities of

Jamat-e-Islami

Not mentioned in the

reports

2 Child journalist Fatema Akter

Auntora, working as a journalist in

Shariatpur for Sishuprokash – a

child news agency operated by

UNICEF and MMC, Shariatpur

Not found Spoiled Ramjan and his

group

3 Anisur Rahman Molla, Daudkandi,

Comilla correspondent for daily

Khabar, Titas, Comilla

Land dispute Terrorists Group

(unknown)

4 Liakat Ali, editor of the daily

Banglar Manus published from

Kurigram, Kurigram

Ransom A group of terrorists

Table-2.1: State of Journalists Kidnapping in 2014

The table reveals that out of four kidnappings three had been recovered while the rest one that

of Anisur Rahman Molla in Comilla is still missing. Though cases were filed in each incident but

any significant steps were not found from the police.

Police Measures Post kidnapping Situation

Status Role of Journalists Legal Process

Not found

- Recovered Not found Victim wife filed GD

The kidnapper gave death threat to the family for not filing case

Recovered Journalists of Sishu Prokash and civil society of Narshingdi formed human chain

Her father filed case

Terrorist vandalizes the journalist’s house and gave death threat to the family to withdraw the case

Not recovered

Not found

The family filed a case

Police took steps Not found Recovered Victim filed a case after getting free


B. Attack

The newspaper contents elucidate a total of 82 attacks happened throughout year the in the country whereas 28 in Dhaka and 54 were in local level of the country. It is also found from the table that the journalists came under attack in the time of covering news/information/snaps, debate with police, internal and personal conflicts and the reasons behind 26 attacks were not found. The newspaper contents also reveal that Awami League activists had been accused for 39 attacks and police had also been accused for 6 attacks. And for the rest attacks Dhaka Medical College employees, Water Development Board Official, Local People, Students of Dhaka University, Land Grabbers, Union Parisad Chairman and unknown miscreants were the accused. Table-3: The State of Attack

No National Local Reasons Accused

82 28 54 Reasons did not mention in the reports: 26 In covering news, protest, debate with police, internal conflicts, taking snaps, land dispute, in collecting information etc.

Awami League Activists: 39 Police: 6 Others: Dhaka Medical College employees, Water Development Board Official, Local People, Students of DU, Land Grabbers, Union Parisad chairman and unknown miscreants

C. Threat

The monitoring report shows that journalists received 141 threats all over the country while

30 were death threat. Senior, mid level and also junior journalists came under threat from

almost all leading newspapers and also TV channels. A series of different people such as

minister, upazila chairman, union parisad chairman and member, political leaders, business

leaders, police, local muscle man, miscreants, terrorists and in some cases unidentified gave

threat over published or potentially publishing reports and in time of covering information

and snaps.


Table-4: Threat

No Who received threat Journalists Types of Threat Accused & Reasons

41 Executive editor, district

correspondents, journalists

community, editors, special

correspondent , editor and

publisher, staff

correspondent, upazilla

correspondent, senior

reporter, joint editors,

media house, photo

journalists, Ex-president of

BFUJ, University

Correspondent and Planning

Editor

Daily Observer,

Jugantor, Daily

Amar Desh, New

Age, Bangla Vision,

Daily Polli

Porikkroma,

Samakal, Prothom

Alo, Inquilab, Bhorer

Kagoj, Ittefaq,

Janakantho, Naya

Dinganta, Diganta

Televevision, Jai Jai

Din, New Nation,

Bhorer Dak, Manab

Jamin, ETV, Kaler

Kantho, Sangabad

Out of total 30

were death threat

Miscreant, terrorist,

political leaders and

activist, police, land

grabbers and pirates,

public representative

(Minister, Upazilla

chairman,

Municipality Mayor,

UP Chairman), outlaw,

local muscle man,

business leader and

unknown person gave

the threats to publish

and potentially

publish reports

against their interest.

During covering and

events the journalists

received the threat

specially taking snaps

and collecting

information

D. Harassment

The following table elucidates that in 2014 journalists had to face 22 harassments in time of

carrying out their duties. The nature of harassments journalists faced are fake case, used

slang in the public place, made fade away mobile and tape recorder from the event place,

shut down and make fire in the shops of journalists. Different ages of journalists from

almost all the leading media houses harassed whether published reports, in the time of

gathering information and also for changing media house. Journalists also harassed when

their published reports hampered the interest of different stake holders such as Jubo


league, Sromic league activists, Public representative (MP, Upazilla Chairman, UP Chairman,

UP Member), Drug Control Department, Police, Ministry Official.

Table: 5- Harassment

No Harassed by journalists Accused Types Reasons Measures

22 District

correspondent,

staff reporter,

chief news

editor ,

assistant

editor,

University

Correspondent

, senior

reporters,

economic

editor, national

editor, editor,

senior sub-

editor, reporter

Jugantor, Daily

Star, Bangla

News, Channel-I,

ATN Bangla,

News Bangla.net,

Ittefaq, Destiny,

Janakantho,

Manab Jamin,

Naya Diganta,

Kaler Kantho,

Somudro Barta,

Islamic TV,

Amder Shomoy,

Jai Jai Din and

Amar Desh

Jubo league

Sromic league

cadres, Public

representative

(UP chairman,

Upazilla

Chairman, MP,

UP Member)

Drug Control

Department,

Police, Ministry

Official

Shut-down shop

of the journalist

to cover the

report, mobile

and tape

recorder lost,

termination and

labeled them as

criminal in the

scroll, fake case

filed, slang use in

the public place,

rude behavior

and refused to

provide

information,

snatch mobile

phone and digital

camera, firing

Published

report,

change

media outlet,

in collecting

information

for reporting,

in taking

snaps, to

protect self

interest

Police

refused to

take one

case then

journalist

filed case

in the court

E. Arrest

The table however reveals that 20 journalists have been arrested across the country in

2014. Most of the arrest held having the allegation of extortion and involvement in murder

case or having illegal weapons or in some cases generating comments on court verdict and

for taking stance that went somehow against the government. The journalists who are

arrested are mainly editor, special correspondent, senior reporter, bureau chief and

university correspondent.


Table-6: Arrest of the Journalists

No Name of the Journalists Reasons

1 Saiful Islam Swapon, Laxmipur correspondent of

Jai Jai Din

Not found

2 Shamsul Haque, Editor of daily Naoroj Showing reasons that the editor

demanded 2 lack taka extortion from a

business man and following the case

3 Abdus Salam, Chairman of private TV channel

Ekushe ETV

Mumbai Airport police got an

unauthorized rival bar and seven round

bullets with him

4 Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor of the Daily

Amar Desh

Contempt of Court, Declaration of the

Newspaper Issue

5 Shafiqul Kabir, Special Correspondent of the

Daily Ittefaq

Family dispute

6 Arifur Rahman Arab, Bera upazila correspondent

of the daily Inqilab and the editor of a local daily

‘A Juger Dip’

Following a ‘false’ extortion case

7 Mir Farhad Hossain Sumon, Laxmipur

Correspondent of the daily Kaler Kantho

A written allegation by residential

medical officer of Laxmipur Sadar of

extortion against the journalist

8 Azharul Islam, correspondent for Ashar Alo Claiming that he collected money in an

illegally way

9 Emdadul Islam Shohel, Executive Editor, local

daily Localoi Barta

Suspected to be involved in a murder

case

10 Prof. Shabuddin, editor of daily Satmatha in

Bogra and Ameer of Bogra Jamat-e-Islami

The court sentenced him two years jail

following a defamation case

11 Sheikh Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of

Fakirhat Upazila press club in Bagerhat

Police arrested him following a case filed


12 Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor, Daily Amar

Desh

He was arrested following a deceit case

filed by the publisher of Amar Desh

13 Auliullah Noman, Special Correspondent, Amar

Desh

Published a report titled ‘chamber manei

sorkar pokkhe stay’

14 Omar Faruque, Ashulia Correspondent of

Bangladesh Pratidin

He was arrested for a car snatching case

filed by car businessman

15 Md. Humayun Kabir, Rajshahi Bureau Chief of

the daily Khabar Patra

For cursing at the prime minister over the

executions of the five jailed convicts for

the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

16 Abul Bosor Noyon, Naikhongchari, Bandarban

Correspondent of Amar Desh

Union Parishad chairman handed over

him to police raising being accused in an

dacoit incidence

17 Abul Kasem, Senior reporter of the daily Ajkaler

Khobor

For publishing reports on the conflict on

the matters of a schools where two

political tycoons involved

18 Sankar Jit Samaddar, Vandaria Correspondent of

daily Motobad published form Barisal

He was arrested following a case by a

person where it was said he took 1250

taka illegally and claimed also for more 2

thousand taka from him

19 Sheikh Yunus Ali, Mongla Upazila correspondent

of the daily Amar Desh in Bagerhat

Not found

20 Anowar Hossain Sagor, Dhaka University

correspondent of Daily Banglar Ava

On the allegation to be involved in the

activities of recently banned political

party Hizbut Tahrir

Arrest of Fake Journalists

1. On 20th May 2014 Police arrested Md. Iqbql Hossain Kabir while he was taking

money illegally in the Tafsil office of Keranigong of Dhaka


2. On 1st September 2014 police arrested 4 persons introduced themselves as

journalist while they were collecting money at a diagosnistic centre of Savar,

Dhaka

3. On November 30, 2014 one person introduced himself as journalist had been

arrested while he was trying to snatch 15 thousand taka from a businessman

4. On 29th of August Tejgaon thana police arrested a fake journalist named Ripon

Boiddo while he was taking money illegally introduced himself as journalist from

Firmgate of Dhaka city

It is found from the newspaper contents that in 2014 police arrested 7 people when they

extorted and snatched money generating their identity as journalist.

F. Case

The table reveals 107 cases filed against journalist across the country in 2014. It is also seen

from the table that Ruling party supporter, Anti-Corruption Commission, journalists, police,

lawyer, government, aggrieved person, energy advisor of prime minister, literary

personality, Media Star Limited and Busundhara Group, Bankers, real estate company,

political leaders, MPs and their relatives filed the cases as Defamation Case, Contempt of

Court, Legal Notice, General Diary , Provocation for Suicide, Created barrier to perform

responsibility of the police, Grab, Extortion, Charge for damage, accused to involve with

Islamic militancy, women torture and drug cases for criticizing the government high-ups

(ministers) performance or activity, newspaper declaration issues, due to not pay salary and

other benefit, due to fake and baseless news, due to publish news, published reports, piracy

of the popular character of Humayun Ahmed novels, due to publish report of the son of

prime minister on receiving bribe, land grab, involve with Islamic militancy, to criticize the

role of court, published reports of corruption of MPs, accused to involve in Kidnapping,

report published in war criminal, reports on court, torture on women.


Table-7: Case against the Journalists

Number

of Cases

Who filed the cases Reasons Types of case

107

Ruling party supporter, Anti-Corruption Commission, journalists, police, lawyer, government, aggrieved person, energy advisor of prime minister, literary personality, Media Star Limited and Busundhara Group, MP, Bankers, read state company, political leaders, MPs and their relatives

Criticized the government high-ups (ministers) performance or activity, newspaper declaration issues, due to not pay salary and other benefit, due to fake and baseless news, due to publish news, published reports, piracy of the popular character of Humayun Ahmed novels, due to publish report of the son of prime minister on receiving bribe, land grab, involve with Islamic militancy, to criticize the role of court, published reports of corruption of MPs, accused to involve in Kidnapping, Report published in war criminal, reports on court, torture on women

Defamation Case, Court of Contempt, Legal Notice, General Diary , Provocation for Suicide, Created barrier to perform responsibility of the police, Grab, Extortion, Charge for damage, accused to involve with Islamic militancy, women torture and drug cases

Table -7.1: Sensational cases The table reveals the most sensational cases filed in 2014 where Mahmudur Rahman, Acting

editor of daily Amar Desh faced 49 cases among them 15 cases were defamation cases and the

rest were contempt of court, sedition and deceit cases. Shawkat Mahmud also faced five

defamation cases because of generating comments against prime minister. The Prothom Alo

editor and the respective reporter faced a contempt court case for publishing a report on court.

M Asafuddowla, ex-editor and secretary, also faced contempt of court while he generated

oblique remarks on the impartiality of the judiciary.


No Journalist Number of case

Types of case Reasons

1 Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor of daily Amar Desh

49 Defamation(41), Contempt of Court and Sedition

Published Reports, Connection with Hizbut-Tahrir,

2 Shawkat Mahmud 5 Defamation Used slang to state minister of law and justice, Commented against making house vacant of ex-prime minister

3 The editor of Prothom Alo and Reporter Mizanur Rahman Khan

1 Contempt of Court Published report on ‘Massive irregularities in bailing process’

4 M Asafuddowla 1 Contempt of Court Due to his oblique remarks on the impartiality of the judiciary

G. Banned

The table elucidates the banned of one newspaper, one television station, two weeklies, two fortnightlies, two TV programs, one social medium and one photo exhibition across the country in 2014. In all the cases government made the decision to ban generating the cause of violating act and the issue of bad impact to the audience.

Table 8: State of Ban of Newspaper, Television and TV Programs

No Name of Media House/Program banned

Reasons

1 Channel 1 (TV station) BTRC banned Channel 1 because of violating provision of Broadcast Act

2 Amar Desh (Newspaper) Following a defamation and deceit case filed by the publisher against editor

3 Facebook (Social Media) BTRC banned Facebook temporarily (7 days) raising allegation that it was disregard of the


people’s religious feeling [sharing the images of Prophet Muhammad]

4 Satrong, Weekly published from Rajbari

District Commissioner banned the weekly as it didn’t take publishing order from Government

5 Panguchi, Weekly published from Rajbari

6 Kohenda, Fortnightly published from

Irregular Publication

7 Morolgong Barta, Fortnightly published from

8 Two TV programs i.e. ‘Hangman’ and live talk show ‘point of order’ broadcasted in Banglavision

Government considered that the program had negative impact on the children and is for technical problem

9 Photo exhibition on crossfire organized by DRIK Gallery

Without mentioning any reasons

H. License for Private TV stations

The newspaper contents reveal that the government of Bangladesh issued licenses for 12

Televisions. It is also found that most of the cases pro-Awami League the leaders and their

relatives got the licenses and has created huge debate in the media.

No Name of the Television Own/backed by

1 Ekattur Television Mozammel Huq Babu (Son in law of Mr. Asaduzzam, sitting MP of ruling party)

2 Channel-9 Syeda Mahbuba Akhter, the wife of retired Brig-Gen Syed Shafayetul Islam, who is younger brother of LGRD Minister and ruling Awami League General-Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam

3 Independent Television Salman F. Rahman, Vice-Chairman of Beximco Group and adviser of Awami League

4 ATN News Mahfuzur Rahman, owner of ATN Bangla

5 Somoy Television Ahmed Zubair-Murshedul Islam brother of current state minister of law

6 My TV Nasir Uddin

Machhranga Television Anjan Chowdhury, Director of Square Group

8 Mohona TV Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Sitting MP of Rulling Party

9 GTV Gazi Golam Ashriar

10 Bijoy TV Chittagong Mayor A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury


11 Channel-24 Times Media Ltd (AK Azad, president of FBCCI)

12 S.A Channel Private Ltd. S.A. group

I. Community Radio

Since the two-decade endeavors of civil society and the Non-governmental organizations initiated advocacy program for setting up the Community Radio for bringing the voice of the voiceless people of this country. Government promulgated a policy for broadcasting the community Radio entitled with Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy – 2008. On the basis of the policy government invited application for the GO-NGOs organizations. A good number of applications have been submitted and initially 12 organizations got the licenses. The details of the organization are as follows: Table 9.1: Community Radio

No Name of the Radio Own/backed by

1 Community Rural Radio in Amtoli, Barguna

Agricultural Information Service of Ministry of Agriculture

2 Chilmari, Kurigram RDRS Bangladesh

3 Barguna Sadar Mass-line Media Centre (MMC)

4 Kaligong, Satkhira Nalta Hospital and Community Health Foundation

5 Shahjahanpur, Bogra LDRO

6 Chandighat Union in Moulovibazar BRAC

7 Naogoan Sadar Barendra Radio

8 Sitakunda, Chittagong Young Power in Social Action (YPSA)

9 Chapai Nawabgong Sadar Proyas Manobik Unnayan Society

10 Rajshahi Sadar Centre for Communication and Development (CCD)

11 Pobhati, Jhenidah Srijony Bangladesh

12 Munsigong Sadar EC Bangladesh


J. License for FM Radio

The table also elucidates that in 2014 the government took initiative to issue license to

eight more FM Radio stations that were mainly recommended by the leaders of Awami

League and leading business houses.

Table 9.2: FM Radio

No Name of the Radio Recommended by

1 Peoples Radio Nur-a-Alom Chowdhury Liton, Whip of ruling party

2 Radio for Media City Azaduzzaman Khan, MP

3 Herbal Pharmacy Radio of AP House

Fakrul Islam Munshi

4 Next Wave Broadcasting Radio Abdus Sattar, MP, Mymenshing 8

5 FM Radio Harunur Rashid, Chairman of Asian Group of Industries

6 FM Radio Asiatic Marketing Communications Ltd. owned by Sara Zaker

7 FM Radio Ganchil Media owned by singer Kumar Biswajit

8 Dhaka FM Ltd. Doli Iqbal, Dancer and younger sister of late Awami League leader Amir Hossain Babu

K. Conflict between Prothom Alo and Kaler Kantha

The conflict between the houses started with the business interest of two media

owners.

They filed defamation cases against each other following some published reports in

each newspaper

Each newspaper imposed extra sensation regarding the issues of both parties (Ward

Commissioner Ahmed Hossain murder; Pir Amjad Hossain; Grenade attack in 21st

August, Land grabbing)

It was alleged that a few human chains had been formed in Dhaka and Chittagong by

both parties disguising their physical presence and identity


Both the media houses alleged against each other that they presented fake and wrong

information

Key Observations:

The journalists killed for their personal conflict and to be victim of snatching rather than

any journalistic purposes;

To deal the cases police role is questionable;

In general, we didn’t find any significant role of the journalists or media houses to deal

the issues properly (except few one);

Follow-up of the incidents were not found specially in killing, kidnapping attacks cases;

Most of the kidnapping happened for personal conflict;

Journalists came under attack mainly from supporters of the ruling political parties and

local elite;

Most of the arrest held having the allegation of extortion and involvement in murder

case or having illegal weapons or in some cases generating comments on court verdict

and for taking stance that went somehow against the ruling political parties;

Misusages of the journalists identity at local level for extortion;

Political identity gets priority in getting license for TV and FM Radio;

Conflict of interest between two big media houses have been appeared before the mass

audience during this period.

study report state of press freedom in bangladesh 2014 · data analysis and presentation: a....

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