Obtaining license for political goals means blocking scope for journalism
Amid the multifaceted and deep-rooted crises facing the media landscape in Bangladesh, the 11-member Media Reform Commission formed by the interim government has already submitted its report proposing timely and effective reforms. Headed by Kamal Ahmed, the commission has made 20 major recommendations covering issues such as media ownership, revenue and expenditure, the advertisement market, financial security, the future of BTV, Bangladesh Betar, and BSS, as well as the freedom and protection of journalists and media organisations. Each of these 20 points includes several subpoints with detailed explanations. Alongside the recommendations, the commission has also submitted a draft ordinance titled Bangladesh Media Commission Ordinance: 2025, which is now under consideration by the interim government. Media professionals and stakeholders are hoping that the proposals will soon be given legal standing. In this context, Kamal Ahmed sat down for an in-depth conversation with Rahat Minhaz, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University. They discussed the formation and work of the commission, the obstacles and resistance it faced, and the broader challenges at hand. This interview is being published in installments by Views Bangladesh. Today, we present the first part of the five-part series.