The Mass Media Reforms Commission has attached a draft ordinance for a Journalism Protection Act to this report, based on a few examples of best practices worldwide. It proposes taking steps to issue it quickly. Furthermore, it deems the following steps appropriate regarding the incidents of misuse of various laws over the past 15 years: a. Cases filed against journalists under various applicable laws, including the Penal Code, Information and Communication Technology Act, Digital Security Act, Cyber Security Act, and Contempt of Court Act, must be identified and reviewed. Based on the information obtained after the review, the concerned government prosecutor must take appropriate steps to withdraw the cases or have the police submit the final report. b. If evidence of false cases is found upon review, legal and just action must be taken against the concerned authorities. c. Arrangements must be made to compensate affected journalists and their families. d. Affected media organisations must be provided with reasonable compensation. e. Incidents of illegal intrusion, surveillance, and eavesdropping into journalists’ communications and lives must be investigated, and arrangements must be made to punish the culprits.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Media Media
Sub Domain
Journalism Protection Act
Source of Reform Proposals
Mass Media Reforms Commission
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
Last Update: 08-Apr-26
The Draft National Media Commission Ordinance, 2026 contains certain elements related to journalist protection and compensation but several core recommendations are absent. The draft remains under consideration, and no progress has been identified beyond drafting. On 16 March 2026, the Information Minister stated at a Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) event that the government is preparing a roadmap to ensure journalists’ professional dignity, wage structure, and overall safety. However, whether that roadmap will include an Act was not clearly articulated.
Observation
    The Draft National Media Commission Ordinance has faced criticism for being prepared hastily and for dropping several key proposals from the Commission’s report. To date, the draft ordinance has not progressed beyond the drafting stage.

    Implementing this proposal would require political buy-in from the elected government, and political parties may therefore need to clearly articulate their positions on this reform in their respective election manifestos. With the new parliament in place, it may be discussed in the house how the country may proceed with this reform.

    As provided in the Draft National Media Commission Ordinance, 2026, Chapter 3 (Powers and Functions of the Commission), Section 12(2) includes the following provisions:
    (e) the right to reasonable recruitment conditions in media institutions, proper remuneration, fair treatment in the workplace, equity and justice; and
    (f) the right to be free from threats, harassment, sexual harassment and violence in connection with employment, and, if subjected to such matters, the right to receive legal and medical services, etc.;
    Sub Section (5) The Commission shall coordinate as necessary with the Government regarding compensation for journalists who become victims of crimes such as violence, illegal detention, enforced disappearance or abduction while performing professional duties.
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Related Reforms

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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