Bangladesh’s news media history is intrinsic to the political history of the nation. Newspapers of the colonization era have transformed into contemporary newspapers of the digital age. The changes have their roots in the progress of society, technology, and politics.
To understand evolution, the rise of radio and private television, digital media and their politics in Bangladesh, and looking into the future, a timeline account is provided.Therefore, the rise of Glory Casino app download was also imminent.
Journalism in Bengal, The Colonial Period
Bangladesh’s journalism history starts with the journalism history of the Bengal presidency. It began when newspapers were created and used for educational purposes, as well as for socio-political reforms, and to stir up political opposition.
- One of the said newspapers is the Samachar Darpan, printed in 1818 and archived in the Serampore and is regarded as one of Bengal’s oldest newspapers.
- First published in 1868, Amrit Bazaar Patrika was rooted in the East Bengal region and served as a political voice, opposing the colonizers. It is now a part of colonization’s post-centralized journalism.
- Dhaka Prakash (1861) was the first prominent newspaper printed in the city of Dhaka, paving the way for local concerns.
Although these first newspapers faced censorship, they were integral in instilling a political awareness among the Bengalis.
Bangladesh Independent (1971-1980s)
The 1971 Independence of Bangladesh was a significant event in the country’s history which also changed the history of the media in Bangladesh. Media is now directly linked with the country’s independence, defining identity, and recording the inhumane events of the time.
- The Daily Ittefaq has always been and continues to be the most important and the best seller newspaper since before and after independence. It has a strong relationship with the nationalist movements.
- Other important newspapers like The Daily Azad and The Bangladesh Observer were also highly regarded during the transition years.
In the Political Shift years of the 1970s and 1980s, the newspapers were highly influenced by the military. Censorship was heavily placed on newspapers while the state run BTB was the shone of broadcast news.
Expansion in Print Journalism (1980s-1990s)
The 1991 Democracy Shift, eased the independent restrictions on journalism and the gaps on reporting were more. Bangladesh also withstood the military suppression.
- The **1998 founded newspaper, Prothom Alo, has become the Bangladesh flagship Bangla daily with the most readers due to its controversial media reporting.
- **The Daily Star, founded in 1991* has claimed the title of **Bangladesh’s** leading unequally verified English newspapers, being highlighted even internationally.
- The works of Jugantor and Janakantha enriched the diversity of voices in print media.
Like elsewhere in the region, the evolution of print media in Bangladesh began with the birth of the vernacular press in the country with several publications – such as Masik Katha, Jugantar, and Janakantha – which began circulation since July 1965; and later the first Dhaka-based daily (The Dhaka Daily) which began circulation in 1967, and its steady growth until the mid 1977, post which the subscription fees doubled in a single year.
Before the 1990’s, The only form of media available was BTV, the only national television station for the country. However, with the thaw in the township and broadcasting of more local channels, the 2000s became a revolutionary period for the media.
- Starting in 1997, ATN Bangla marked the birth of the first satellite channels in the country, and was the first to integrate television journalism with news broadcasting.
- The year 1999 saw the launch of Channel I, which rapidly rose to fame for its novel approaches to news broadcasting and its promotion of local culture.
- NTV, RTV, and Ekushey (or ETV as it is sometimes referred to) added to the diversity of news available in the country.
The launch of television channels like Somoy TV, Ekattor, and Independent TV, along with many others, during the 2010s, changed the way news consisted of, making it more accessible, with the addition of several other 24 hour news channels being introduced. As such, television emerged as the most preferred form of media in the country, particularly for live news coverage.
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- With the conquest of the internet, digital media began to flourish in the country.
- BDNews24 is the first online news agency in Bangladesh, and is the first to pioneer web-based journalism in the country.
- JagoNews24, along with Bangla Tribune, is a digital first publisher that managed to capture the interest of many publications, especially the youth in the country.
- Prothom Alo, as well as Daily Star, are traditional newspapers which have adapted to the digital era with a strong web presence.
The rapid shift was facilitated by the adoption of smartphones back in the 2010s. Mobile sites and news apps became especially crucial for reaching the diaspora community.
Social Media and the Breaking of News
- The introduction of WhatsApp, YouTube, Twitter (X), and Facebook has changed how news spreads in Bangladesh.
- Citizen Journalism – During political events, disasters, and protests, individuals have the capability to report real-time news.
- Diaspora Connections – Expatriates Bangladeshis are now able to access and participate in news from their homeland.
- Challenges – The spread of ‘fake news’ and misinformation concerning elections can be a major problem.
- Social media has given power to the people, but it has also blurred the lines between user content and professional journalism.
The major issues facing Bangladeshi media in the digital age.
Freedom of Press
- The Digital Security Act (DSA) has raised concerns about free speech silencing.
- Criticism in reporting can also lead to abuse and arrest, which journalists suffer from.
- Another major problem is the loss of Economic Sustainability.
- Declining print circulation in traditional newspapers also leads to a drop in advertisement revenue.
- Many of these media sectors are heavily reliant on advertising from the government and corporate sectors which compromises their editorial freedom.
- Misinformation, along with Fake News, is also a growing issue.
- The rapid development of social media has made false information a big problem.
- Fact-checking projects are still limited but are becoming more popular.
Media Ownership and Political Influence
- The ownership of many media outlets is by business conglomerates with clear political connections.
This influences both the editorial lines and the limitations of acceptable dissent.
Opportunities in the Digital Future
Rise of Mobile-First Journalism
- With 125 million internet users, Bangladesh is a mobile-first country.
- Mobile news apps, push alerts, & mobile-friendly content will continue to grow.
Emergence of Independent Digital Platforms
Small, creative startups are testing new systems of subscriptions, newsletters, and specialized reporting.
Diaspora-Focused Media
- Millions of Bangladeshis abroad seek well-structured, reliable news in Bangla and English.
- Media outlets are developing work specifically targeted toward the diasporic community.
AI and Multimedia Storytelling
- The influence of AI is starting to be felt in news production, through automated writing and personalized recommendations.
- Storytelling is changing from podcasts, video explainers, to other interactive digital components.
Comparing Print and Digital Journalism in Bangladesh
- Aspect
- Print Journalism
- Digital Journalism
- Reach
- Restricted to urban and semi-urban settings
- Accessible both locally and globally due to internet
Speed
- Daily news cycles
- Real-time updates
Credibility
- Has a long established history and editorial scrutiny
- Quick to circulate, but with a high chance of misinformation
Audience
- Older, more traditional readership
- Youth, digital-oriented consumers
Revenue Model
- Subscriptions complimented with advertisements
- Cooperating advertisements, sponsored content, and paywalls
- The coexistence of both formats still exists, but digital content is currently prevailing.
The Future of Bangladeshi News Media
Like other countries, Bangladesh too is bound to have its future journalism shaped by the convergence of 3 forces:
- Technology – the use of mobile phones, AI, and the newer multimedia platforms
- Politics – the dynamic between the degree of freedom of the media and the suppression by the state
- Economics – the quest for sustainable business models for journalism in this age of digitization.
Printed newspapers will not be phased out entirely, however, their impact will be significantly less than newer digital platforms. We anticipate the future to have a predominance of hybrid models, whereby print brigades heavily invest in digital and mobile news.
Conclusion
The transformation of Bangladesh’s Agency media from the Dhaka Prakash of the colonial days to the latest in mobile news apps demonstrates a story of resilience and the ability to innovate. With its roots in print journalism, the identity of the nation was formed, Television then broadened its horizons, and now, the opportunity to digitize media is at our fingertips.
Innovation however is still bound by the shackles of censorship, bias, and misinformation. In a context to the rest of South Asia, media in Bangladesh still remains dynamic. Readers today have a plethora of options however are still bound by the responsibility of critical thinking to avoid the trap of misinformation that has come in the guise of news.
The media evolution in Bangladesh is a sign of the nation’s struggle for democracy, identity and the freedom of information. It has not been an easy struggle, and traces of it will surely remain etched in the future.
