Can Bangladesh’s media balance freedom and responsibility during elections?
For a thriving democracy, Bangladeshi media must operate free from government oppression while upholding high standards of objective, responsible reporting
In Bangladesh's electoral process, the vastness of the role of media is unimaginable, serving as a bridge between voters and political representatives in the marketplace of ideas, advancing transparency and stimulating participation in the democratic process.
Without a free media which delivers fair and responsible information, democracy cannot succeed. However, ensuring the right balance between media freedom and responsibility is complex.
As the foremost source of information, the media enables voters to make informed choices about candidates, political parties and national issues. Given the diversity of the electorate in Bangladesh, the function of vote aggregation assumes greater significance as voter preferences really do differ across regions.
The media is also an important means of holding politicians accountable. Investigative journalism plays a big role here by bringing out irregularities whether it is vote-rigging, fraud, or corruption. In this way, the media preserves the very essence of democracy while serving as a watchdog for the electoral process.
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Also, the media can mobilise voters, especially those from marginalised and remote communities by highlighting campaign trips, voter registration, polling and voting dates. Such public service announcements and campaigns enhance voter turnout and participatory democracy.
Though significant, Bangladesh's press is not without its hurdles, particularly during election seasons. One major risk is political bias. Numerous media organisations are accused of promoting certain political parties, skewing facts and eroding democracy. This partisanship makes it hard for voters to discover neutral sources of information.
One more growing problem is misinformation and fake news. Rumours and manufactured content go viral in the digital era, and social media drives public conversation. This effort is especially dangerous during elections, as misinformation can mislead voters. The media must provide the public with accurate, fact-checked news.
Under the previous government, the media was increasingly repressed in Bangladesh. Investigative and critical reporting particularly related to the ruling party and politically sensitive topics put journalists at risk of intimidation, threats, detention and even violence. Dissent was scuttled and press freedom was muzzled through laws like the Digital Security Act (DSA), later the Cyber Security Act (CSA).
Intended to fight cybercrime, the DSA became the government's weapon of choice to silence media outlets, activists and anyone else who dared criticise the administration.
Journalists have been charged under the law for publishing articles or posting thoughts classified as "harmful" by the authorities. In practice, it was used to silence critical voices, resulting in broad self-censorship.
Furthermore, critical reports were suppressed or deleted, and pro-government outlets promoted. Independent or opposition-aligned media were sidelined, hindering the ability to ensure that elections were fair and transparent.
One growing problem is misinformation and fake news. Rumours and manufactured content go viral in the digital era, and social media drives public conversation. This is especially dangerous during elections, as misinformation can mislead voters. The media must provide the public with accurate, fact-checked news.
In order for Bangladesh's democracy to thrive, the government must safeguard press freedom. The foundational step is to change or repeal repressive laws such as the Cyber Security Act and to make sure that new laws do not restrict media freedom. Cybercrime laws should protect people — not lock up critics.
The state must also put a legal framework in place for ensuring journalists' safety and freedom to report facts. It is critical that we support a climate where the media can operate free of harassment or litigation, particularly during election seasons.
It is also vital to scrutinise proposed media-related legislation prior to adopting it. Laws like the CSA and DSA must be analysed to assure they do not limit freedom of speech. New laws should support the media to become a vigorous, democratising force for accountability and transparency.
The government must also encourage media literacy. During the time of so much misinformation we need the voters to be able to critically analyse the information that is presented to them. Media literacy initiatives can aid the public in identifying credible information as opposed to false information.
In Bangladesh, the Constitution, under Article 39, ensures freedom of speech and press freedom. It states that every citizen can express their opinion freely and that the media can circulate information and ideas freely. This provision is critical to Bangladesh's democracy, enabling the media to serve as a check on the government.
But the freedom guaranteed under Article 39 is not absolute. It must be followed within the constraints of public order, decency and morality. Designed to uphold social harmony, these restrictions have at times been used to suppress press freedom, especially in the face of government criticism.
The media must operate free of interference but must also adhere to ethical standards; they must be committed to truth, fairness and objectivity. This responsibility is even more vital around election time when biased or inaccurate reporting can affect public perception and corrupt the electoral process.
To foster a free press, the government needs to ensure a legal environment so that journalists are not in danger of being imprisoned, harassed or threatened. Laws must be updated to allow journalists to carry out their work without fear of legal repercussions, including when reporting on election-related issues.
Better standards in the media sector mean that democracy in Bangladesh has its media watchdog, which allows citizens and voters to cast their votes freely and fairly.
For the media to perform this role, the government must first protect the freedom of the media, repeal laws that are seen as repressive and take measures to ensure that new laws do not hinder free speech.
The government has a vital role to play in safeguarding media independence and developing responsible reporting to support free, fair and transparent elections in Bangladesh.
Muhidul Islam Julkan is a student at the Department of Law at Southern University Bangladesh.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
