The commission believes that merging BSS into the news division of the new combined institution of BTV and Betar would be the optimal use of state resources, rather than keeping it as an independent institution. News generated by this central newsroom will be broadcast on BTV and Bangladesh Betar. The new unified institution combining BTV, Betar, and BSS can be named the Bangladesh Broadcasting Agency or the National Broadcasting Agency. This new institution will have three divisions: Television, Radio, and News Division. The News Division in the new broadcasting agency will continue to provide services to its current clients. There will be a Director as the head of each division, and the head of the new integrated broadcasting agency will be a Director General. The government will appoint the Director General; however, he will be accountable to the Governing Board.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Media Media
Sub Domain
BTV, Betar, and BSS
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
This reform proposal, articulated in the Media Reform Commission Report, was officially initiated.
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
The government has formed a five-member committee, led by Education Adviser C.R. Abrar, to ensure the autonomy of state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. The other members are: Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Road Transport and Bridge Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, and Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan. The government is developing rules to allow automnomy for BTV. But no merger may take place with BSS/Betar. And, also, no decision in view of autonomy for Betar and BSS is planned.
Observation
    Government initiatives aimed at ensuring the autonomy and efficiency of state-owned broadcasters indicate that structural reforms for BTV and Bangladesh Betar are under active consideration. The formation of a high-level committee to implement the Media Reform Commission's recommendations and review past media policies suggests that options for institutional consolidation and centralised news production are under examination. Within this policy context, the proposed integration of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) into a unified broadcasting framework is aligned with the broader reform direction, although no formal decision on such a merger has yet been taken.
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It is necessary for the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to conduct annual surveys to verify the expectations and actual experiences of listeners, viewers, and readers regarding the media.
Reform Proposed
a. Eliminating gender discrimination in recruitment, placement, and training to ensure the participation of all genders at all levels of the media; b. Preparing gender-sensitive codes of conduct in each media outlet and establishing systems for providing information, discussion, training, and monitoring for effective implementation of the code of conduct; ensuring infrastructure (e.g., separate toilets, childcare centres) for the smooth participation of all genders; c. Ensuring the utmost caution in the safety and protection of journalists of all genders, prioritising the needs of women; providing transportation arrangements for safe travel; d. Establishing a complaints redress cell in each media office as per the High Court directive on preventing sexual harassment (2009); e. Taking mental health protection measures to cope with various types of pressure in journalism; f. Ensuring that women receive proper maternity leave and do not face any discrimination upon returning to work after leave; g. Formulating clear guidelines and rules for how women will be presented; preparing policies on not publishing or broadcasting stereotypical ideas that create hatred, animosity, or negative attitudes towards women, or hinder their smooth presence in all fields; h. Highlighting the multifaceted roles and participation of women in society; ensuring that the voice and perspective of women are reflected in any news/feature; i. Preparing clear guidelines for language use to avoid direct or indirect humiliation of women through words or descriptions.
Reform Initiated
More research-based knowledge is needed on media literacy’s methods, effectiveness, evaluation, etc.
Reform Proposed
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Glossary

Last Updated: 14th December 2025

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