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Published : 03 Feb 2026, 07:55 PM
International rights organisation Article 19 has expressed concern over the interim government’s abrupt release of draft ordinances to establish a National Media Commission and a Broadcasting Commission, allowing only three days for public feedback.
The London‑based group said the initiative, taken at the very end of the interim government’s tenure, lacks transparency and due process and risks undermining freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
“The draft National Media Commission Ordinance aims to establish a body under direct government control, heavily influenced by bureaucratic authority,” Article 19 said in a statement on Tuesday. “Such a design leaves the commission exposed to political interference and falls far short of international human rights standards, including Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”
The group noted further shortcomings, including the exclusion of freelance journalists from the definition of ‘journalist’, depriving a significant segment of the media community of legal protections, accreditation and safety measures.
The proposed Broadcasting Commission Ordinance mirrors these flaws, centralising state control rather than safeguarding pluralism or public‑interest journalism.
Article 19 pointed out that the ordinances come nearly a year after the Bangladesh Media Reform Commission submitted its report on Mar 22, 2025, with recommendations for a National Media Commission.
The interim government took no meaningful action on those recommendations, and members of the Reform Commission have publicly voiced frustration.
“The government’s sudden urgency after months of inaction raises serious questions about motive and legitimacy,” the statement said.
With Bangladesh set to form a new elected government after the Feb 12 national election, Article 19 urged the interim administration to halt the enactment process and leave such far‑reaching decisions to the incoming government with a fresh democratic mandate.
The organisation called on the government to stop the enactment of the draft ordinances, commit to transparent consultation with journalists, editors, civil society and legal experts, and guarantee that any future media regulator is fully independent and free from executive control.
It also urged recognition of freelance journalists under relevant laws, alignment of reforms with international human rights standards, and assurance of safety and free movement for all journalists during the election period.
