BSCL Faces Setbacks in TRP Implementation, Media Reform Commission Voices Concerns
In April 2024, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) launched a Television Rating Point (TRP) service for the country’s television channels. However, despite plans to install 8,000 devices within a year to measure program popularity, the organization has so far managed to deploy only 300 devices.
On Saturday, March 22, during a press briefing at the state building Jamuna, Kamal Ahmed, head of the Media Reform Commission, shared these concerns after submitting a report to the Chief Advisor.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the slow implementation, he warned,
"At this rate, the television industry will collapse. This is a serious injustice. There must be a third-party verification of these systems."
Calls for Journalist Protection and Media Reforms
Kamal Ahmed also advocated for a Journalist Protection Law, arguing that such legislation would prevent unauthorized surveillance and privacy violations, such as implanting spyware on mobile devices or unauthorized phone checks.
Additionally, the Media Reform Commission recommended that entry-level journalists receive a minimum salary equivalent to ninth-grade BCS officers. The commission further proposed that journalists should hold at least a bachelor’s degree as a minimum educational qualification.
Among other key proposals, the commission suggested that a single organization should own only one media outlet under the "One House, One Media" policy. It also recommended granting autonomy to Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, merging them into a National Broadcasting Authority, which would operate independently.
Addressing Newspaper Fraud and Government Advertising
The commission reported that, while the government recognizes 600 newspapers as eligible for state advertising, only 52 of these newspapers have a significant circulation. Kamal Ahmed stated,
"Fraudulent practices are being used to secure government advertisements dishonestly."
Notable Attendees at the Press Conference
The press conference was attended by Professor Gitiara Nasreen of Dhaka University’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Shamsul H. Zahid, Editor of The Financial Express and a representative of the Editors’ Council, Anjan Chowdhury, a representative of the Association of Television Owners (ATCO), Akhtar Hossain Khan, Secretary of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), Syed Abdal Ahmed, former General Secretary of the National Press Club, Fahim Ahmed, CEO of Jamuna Television and trustee of the Broadcast Journalists’ Center, Kamrun Nesa Hasan, former Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Television, journalist Jimmy Amir, convenor of the Media Support Network, Mostafa Sabuj, Bogura correspondent of The Daily Star, Titu Dutta Gupta, Deputy Editor of The Business Standard, and Abdullah Al Mamun, a student representative.
The recommendations presented by the commission are expected to spark significant discussions on media transparency, journalist rights, and the future of television ratings in Bangladesh.
