As the nation gears up for 13th parliamentary election, the interim government has quietly initiated a move to issue the “Broadcasting Ordinance 2026.”
The draft ordinance was prepared without any consultation with experts or stakeholders in the broadcast media, leading to concerns among media analysts that it could be abused to consolidate power.
On the morning of 28 January, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting published the draft on its website, providing a window of only four days – until 31 January – for public feedback.
Analysts argue that such a brief period is insufficient for a legal document that could fundamentally reshape the country’s media landscape and curtail freedom of expression.
Legal experts suggest the draft directly conflicts with Article 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and speech, as well as press freedom, as fundamental rights.
While the Constitution allows for reasonable restrictions in the interest of state security or public order, this ordinance employs vague terminology such as “anti-public interest,” “malicious,” and “threat to national security.”
Such ambiguity could allow for any critical content to be easily criminalised.
The crisis deepens when viewed through Article 31, which ensures the right to protection of law and justice.
The draft ordinance contains provisions to suspend or cancel the licences of television and radio stations through administrative decisions that could effectively terminate a media outlet’s existence.
This draft offers no effective remedy against such actions, denies the right to claim compensation, and limits the opportunity to seek redress in court, which contravenes the enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 44.
Old regime tactic to maintain control?
Media analysts contend that the move is not a matter of administrative urgency, but rather a new iteration of an old regime tactic to maintain control over the media. The ministry has been accused of negligence for failing to involve media experts, researchers, or university professors in the drafting process.
Professor Din M Sumon Rahman of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at ULAB, Sheikh Adnan Fahad, chairman of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jahangirnagar University, and Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Dr Md Mofizur Rahman of Dhaka University have all confirmed their lack of involvement in the draft ordinance.
Questions have been raised over the timing of release, as many citizens remain unaware of the draft due to a lack of publicity by the ministry.
Addressing the short timeframe, Khadiza Tahera Boby, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, told TIMES, “The time of the interim government is limited. This is why opinions are being collected within four days.”
Following the resignation of former adviser Mahfuz Alam, Syeda Rizwana Hasan was given charge of the ministry on 11 December last year. However, she could not be reached for comment regarding the ordinance despite several attempts.
Rejoanul Huq, chairman of the Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC), expressed deep concern over the hurried initiative.
“Requesting opinions by the 31st after publishing the draft on the 28th is an extremely rushed process,” he said, adding that sustainable results cannot be achieved through such haste.
He described the exclusion of relevant stakeholders as unacceptable and urged the interim government to postpone the ordinance until after the elections, suggesting that a subsequent elected government should handle the matter through inclusive discussions.
