Bangladesh media guide
- Published
TV is the most popular medium. State-owned BTV is the sole network with national terrestrial coverage. Satellite and cable channels and Indian TV stations have large audiences.
State radio covers almost the entire country. BBC World Service in English and Bengali is heard on 100 FM in Dhaka.
Newspapers are outspoken and privately-owned. English-language titles appeal mainly to an urban readership.
Media tend to be polarised, aligning themselves with one or other of the main political factions.
Freedom House says journalists and media face lawsuits, harassment and physical attacks. A digital security law allows for prison terms for "negative propaganda".
As yet, it is unclear how the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 will affect the country's media laws.
There were 129.1 million internet users by July 2022, comprising 77.2% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com). The vast majority are using mobile devices.
Access to the internet is usually unrestricted, says US-based Freedom House. But access to social media, messaging platforms and news sites has occasionally been blocked by the authorities.
Some prominent bloggers who have written about Islamic fundamentalism have been murdered for their writing. Bloggers and social media users have been arrested on blasphemy-related charges.
Press
The Daily Star, external - English-language
New Age, external - English-language daily
The New Nation, external - English-language daily
The Independent, external - English-language daily
Daily Sun, external - English-language
Holiday, external - English-language weekly
Prothom Alo, external - Bengali daily, online pages in English
Dainik Ittefaq, external - Bengali daily, online pages in English
Dainik Jugantor, external - Bengali daily
Television
Bangladesh Television (BTV), external - government-run
ATN Bangla, external - private, via satellite and cable
Channel i, external - private, via satellite and cable
NTV, external - private, via satellite and cable
RTV, external - private, via satellite
Ekushey TV, external - private, via satellite
Radio
Betar-Radio Bangladesh, external - government-run, operates networks A, B and C from Dhaka and local services
Radio Today FM, external - privately-owned
Radio Foorti FM, external - privately-owned
ABC Radio, external - privately-owned
News agencies/internet
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), external - official, English-language pages
bdnews24, external - private
Banglanews24.com, external - private