The advance tax levied on the honorariums of media columnists, contributors, artists, and guest presenters/discussants is equivalent to taxing creativity. This advance tax should be abolished.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Media Media
Sub Domain
Media Ownership
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: 21-Jul-26
This reform proposal has been articulated in the Media Reform Commission Report but has yet to be officially initiated.
Observation
    For FY2026–27, the Tax Deduction at Source Rules, 2026, issued on 8 June 2026 and effective from 1 July 2026, prescribe a 20% tax deduction from meeting fees, training fees and honorarium bills. This is contrary to the Media Reform Commission’s proposal to abolish advance tax on such honorariums. The rules provide no special consideration for media contributors, artists, guest presenters or discussants. Under the existing legal framework, a 10% advance tax is required to be deducted at source (TDS) from honorarium payments, applicable to “meeting fees, training fees, or honorariums” paid by specified entities, including government bodies, autonomous institutions, banks, and limited companies.
Resources
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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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