The recent directive by Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam for Bangladesh Television (BTV) to function as the people's media rather than the government's mouthpiece is a step in the right direction. Historically, BTV has been perceived to be a propaganda machine of successive governments, relating news reports as they want them told, or the news crews running the risk of being jobless the following day. It was never a reliable source of information for public consumption, especially relating to government matters. The Awami League government was no different. The state-run media was abused as its official newsletter and this has seriously eroded the trust of viewers.
The core issue lies in its lack of autonomy. Although all previous elected governments made election promises in this regard, the state-run Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) were firmly under government control and no government relinquishes this power willingly. The High Court had actually issued an order granting autonomy to BTV in 2009, but the then AL government sought more time to complete its internal report and ultimately reneged on its pre-election promise.
One wonders, in the present world of information overload, how beneficial is a captive media in gathering votes? A government's actual performance is still unequivocally the best measure of determining voters' approval, irrespective of fancy trimmings. People judge the cake, not the box. Moreover, the voters of today are different from those of previous generations. They're much more sophisticated and better informed. Access to both national and international news is now a mere click away and voters are wary of unverified and unverifiable news or self-glorifying political boasts.
While BTV has the opportunity to uphold the principles of quality journalism during the tenure of a non-party interim government, the reality is that maybe as soon as a political party assumes office, it will interfere with and compromise the integrity of the state broadcaster. This possibility underscores the need for a clear policy that guarantees BTV's independence, regardless of which party is in power. The definition and scope of this autonomy must be meticulously outlined to ensure that BTV can serve public interest, free from political influence and fear.
BTV is, first and foremost, an institution of the people - the people's channel - funded by taxpayers and meant to operate under laws that reflect the will of the people. Granting full independence to BTV is not only a matter of journalistic imperative, but also a necessary step towards restoring public trust in the state broadcaster. It is high time that the government recognises this demand and carries out meaningful reforms to ensure that BTV can fulfill its role as a reliable and trusted source of information.
Although the electronic media landscape in the country is saturated with numerous private TV channels, all competing for a limited audience, government-run media still has the potential to serve the people and attract a significant viewership. This is partly because private channels often choke their broadcasts with an excessive amount of commercials, which can undermine the quality of content. Public information and education are essential services that should be enhanced judiciously and not be left to the whims of market forces alone. While we celebrate a new Bangladesh, we should also celebrate a new BTV as the people's channel, not a propaganda machine.
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