Skip to content
1981
Volume 11, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1757-2681
  • E-ISSN: 1757-269X

Abstract

This article offers a historical critique of state-administered media in South Asia. Taking Bangladesh as a media epicentre, the article extrapolates the geopolitical consequences of the colonial era and postcolonial transformation in the South Asian region under which the modern state-administered media in Bangladesh continue to survive, albeit declining. Drawing from field interviews and documentary research, the article further highlights the historical struggles of the state-broadcasters, particularly Bangladesh Television, in providing public service to fragmented masses. The findings suggest that despite its failure to break free from colonial and authoritarian political misuse, state-broadcasting continues to matter for the public service to a limited extent, not because how pervasive its propaganda is but how well its programming serves the diverse publics despite persistent political mistreatment and growing market pressures. The findings are reflected with other contexts of South Asian state-broadcasting.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/iscc_00019_1
2020-07-01
2026-04-22

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Agrawal, Binod C., and Raghaviah, Salini. ( 2006;), ‘ India: Public service broadcasting and changing perspectives. ’, in I. Banerjee, and K. Seneviratne. (eds), Public Service Broadcasting in the Age of Globalization, Singapore:: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre;, pp. 14964.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Ahmed, Hana S.. ( 2013;), ‘ Politics of restraint: The media and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. ’, in B. Shoesmith,, J. W. Genilo, and M. Asiuzzaman. (eds), Bangladesh’s Changing Mediascape: From State Control to Market Forces, Bristol:: Intellect;, pp. 297312.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. All India Radio ( 2016a;), ‘ Chapter 1: History of All India Radio. ’, in All India Radio Manual, vol. 1, New Delhi:: All India Radio;, pp. 113, https://web.archive.org/web/20100917064450/http://allindiaradio.org/Misc/AIR-Manual1/Chapter1.pdf. Accessed 23 March 2017.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. All India Radio ( 2016b;), ‘ Existing A.I.R. stations. ’, http://prasarbharati.gov.in/AIR/airstations.php. Accessed 8 June 2020.
  5. Amin, Samir. ( 2005;), ‘ India, a great power?. ’, Monthly Review, 56:9, https://monthlyreview.org/2005/02/01/india-a-great-power/. Accessed 23 March 2017.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Anonymous respondent 1 ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  7. Anonymous respondent 2 ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  8. Anonymous respondent 3 ( 2018), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 19 April.
  9. Bass, Gary J.. ( 2014), The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide, London:: Hurst & Co;.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Chakraborty, Bhanu R.. ( 2014;), ‘ Satellite TV channels boom in Bangladesh. ’, The Asian, 24 March, http://www.theasian.asia/archives/85523. Accessed 10 July 2017.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Chakravartty, Paula, and Zhao, Yuezhi. ( 2008;), ‘ Introduction: Toward a transcultural political economy of global communications. ’, in P. Chakravartty, and Y. Zhao. (eds), Global Communications: Toward a Transcultural Political Economy, Lanham, MD:: Rowman & Littlefield;, pp. 119.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Chin, Yik C.. ( 2017), Television Regulation and Media Policy in China, London:: Routledge;.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Deb, Gopal C.. ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  14. Dhaka Tribune ( 2019;), ‘ BTV begins broadcasting on Indian national television “Doordarshan”. ’, 2 September, https://www.dhakatribune.com/media/2019/09/02/btv-transmission-begins-in-india. Accessed 15 April 2020.
  15. Director General of News ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  16. Dragomir, Marius. ( 2016;), ‘ Myanmar’s government hints about closure of state-run TV are merely an odd hoax. ’, MediaPowerMonitor.com, 17 February, http://mediapowermonitor.com/content/myanmars-government-hints-about-closure-state-run-tv-are-merely-odd-hoax. Accessed 29 September 2017. No longer available .
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Dutta, Ankuran, and Ullah, Mohammad S.. (eds) ( 2019), Invisible Waves: Visible Changes – Community Radio Movement in Bangladesh, Guwahati:: ARMT South Asia Publications;.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Fraser, Nancy. ( 1992;), ‘ Rethinking the public sphere: A contribution to the critique of actually existing democracy. ’, in C. Calhoun. (ed.), Habermas and the Public Sphere, Cambridge, MA:: MIT Press;, pp. 10941.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Genilo, Jude,, Bhowmick, Bikash, and Shoesmith, Brian. ( 2013;), ‘ Radio in Bangladesh: Growth, decline and transformation. ’, in B. Shoesmith, and J. W. Genilo. (eds), Bangladesh’s Changing Mediascape: From State Control to Market Forces, Bristol:: Intellect;, pp. 5577.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Gupta, Partha S.. ( 2002), Power, Politics and the People: Studies in British Imperialism and Indian Nationalism, London:: Anthem Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Hasan, Saidul, and Baten, Azizul. ( 2005;), ‘ Role of mass media in promotion of family planning in Bangladesh. ’, Journal of Applied Sciences, 5, pp. 115862.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Hassan, Kiran. ( 2017;), ‘ Why did a military dictator liberalize the electronic media in Pakistan?. ’, in S. Udupa, and S. D. McDowell. (eds), Media as Politics in South Asia, New York:: Routledge;, pp. 7794.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. The Independent ( 2020;), ‘ “Kothao Keu Nei”, “Bohubrihi” set to return on BTV. ’, 6 April, http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/243780. Accessed 15 April 2020.
  24. Islam, Gazi S.. ( 2014), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 17 June.
  25. Islam, Rabiul. ( 2014;), ‘ Congratulations BTV. ’, Dhaka Tribune, 28 December, https://www.dhakatribune.com/uncategorized/2014/12/28/congratulations-btv. Accessed 29 March 2017.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Islam, Mazharul M., and Hasan, Saidul A. H. M.. ( 2000;), ‘ Mass media exposure and its impact on family planning in Bangladesh. ’, Journal of Biosocial Science, 32:4, pp. 51326.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Jakubowicz, Karol. ( 2007;), ‘ Public service broadcasting: A pawn on an ideological chessboard. ’, in E. D. Bens. (ed.), Media between Culture and Commerce, Chicago, IL:: Intellect;, pp. 11541.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Jain, Savyasaachi. ( 2015;), ‘ India: Multiple media explosions. ’, in K. Nordenstreng, and D. K. Thussu. (eds), Mapping BRICS Media, London:: Routledge;, pp. 14564.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Khan, Abdur R.. ( 2013;), ‘ Private television ownership in Bangladesh: A critical qualitative inquiry. ’, Ph.D. thesis, Pokfulam:: The University of Hong Kong;, http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/195981. Accessed 11 August 2016.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Khan, Amanullah. ( 2008;), ‘ Communication scenes: Bangladesh. ’, in I. Banerjee, and S. Logan. (eds), Asian Communication Handbook 2008, Singapore:: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre;, pp. 10131.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Mamun, Abdullah A.. ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  32. Mamun, Abdullah A.. ( 2020), telephone interview with A. Rahman , 13 April.
  33. Marshall, Catherine, and Rossman, Gretchen B.. ( 2011), Designing Qualitative Research, , 5th ed.., Los Angeles, LA:: Sage;.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Nagarajan, K.. ( 1982;), ‘ Review: Bangladesh: The unfinished revolution by Lawrence Lifschultz. ’, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Special Issue: International Terrorism , 463, pp. 16970, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1043636?seq=1. Accessed 9 June 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Page, David, and Crawley, William. ( 2001), Satellites Over South Asia: Broadcasting, Culture, and the Public Interest, Thousand Oaks, CA:: Sage;.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Parthasarathi, Vibodh, and Chotani, Supriya. ( 2015;), ‘ The digital switchover of Doordarshan: Intriguing dynamics of policy options. ’, Medijske Studije (Media Studies), 6:12, pp. 6376.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Pashupati, Kartik,, Sun, Hua L., and McDowell, Stephen D.. ( 2003;), ‘ Guardians of culture, development communicators, or state capitalists? A comparative analysis of Indian and Chinese policy responses to broadcast, cable and satellite television. ’, International Communication Gazette, 65:3, pp. 25171.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Pendakur, Manjunath. ( 2003;), ‘ All India Radio. ’, in C. H. Sterling. (ed.), Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopaedia of Radio, vol. 1, New York:: Fitzroy Dearborn;.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Pinkerton, Alasdair. ( 2008;), ‘ Radio and the Raj: Broadcasting in British India (1920–1940). ’, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 18:2, pp. 16791.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Rahman, Anis. ( 2014;), ‘ The problems with reimagining public media in the context of Global South. ’, Stream: Culture/Politics/Technology, 6:1, pp. 5665.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Rahman, Anis. ( 2016a;), ‘ Public media initiatives in Bangladesh: Politics and prospects. ’, in A. Rahman, and G. F. Lowe. (eds), Public Service Media Initiatives in the Global South, Burnaby:: SFU Library Digital Publishing;, pp. 2135.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Rahman, Anis. ( 2016b;), ‘ Print and electronic media. ’, in A. Riaz, and M. S. Rahman. (eds), Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Bangladesh, London:: Routledge;, pp. 32539.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Rahman, Anis. ( 2017;), ‘ Television journalism, market orientation, and media democratization in Bangladesh. ’, Ph.D. thesis, Vancouver:: Simon Fraser University;.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Rahman, Ashif. ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  45. Rahman, Atiqur, and Alam, Khorshed. ( 2013;), ‘ State, capital and media in the age of globalization: An inquiry into the rapid growth of private TV channels of Bangladesh. ’, Social Science Review (The Dhaka University Studies, Part-D), 30:2, pp. 291306.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Rahman, Golam. ( 2012;), ‘ Priority of the media: Profit, politics or the public?. ’, The Daily Star Forum, 6:4, http://archive.thedailystar.net/forum/2012/April/priority.htm. Accessed 31 December 2016.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Rahman, Mahabubur. ( 2010;), ‘ Climate change coverage on the mass media of Bangladesh. ’, Global Media Journal (, Pakistan Edition.), 3:1, https://aiou.edu.pk/SAB/gmj/GMJ%20Spring%202010/Article_1.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2020.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Rasul, Azmat, and McDowell, Stephen D.. ( 2012;), ‘ Consolidation in the name of regulation: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the concentration of media ownership in Pakistan. ’, Global Media Journal, 12:20, pp. 115.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Reza, Shameem M.. ( 2012;), ‘ From elite perceptions to marginal voices: Community radio in Bangladesh. ’, in J. Gordon. (ed.), Community Radio in the 21st Century, Oxford:: Peter Lang;, pp. 97113.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Riaz, Ali. ( 1993;), ‘ Twenty-three years of programming of Bangladesh Television (1966-89). ’, Asian Journal of Communication, 3:2, pp. 11727.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Riaz, Ali. ( 2005), Unfolding State: The Transformation of Bangladesh, Whitby:: De Sitter Publications;.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Riaz, Ali. ( 2019), Voting in a Hybrid Regime: Explaining the 2018 Bangladeshi Election, London:: Palgrave Pivot;.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Shoesmith, Brian,, Mahmud, Shameem, and Reza, Shameem M.. ( 2013;), ‘ A political history of television in Bangladesh. ’, in B. Shoesmith, and J. W. Genilo. (eds), Bangladesh’s Changing Mediascape: From State Control to Market Forces, Bristol:: Intellect;, pp. 23755.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Sklair, Leslie. ( 2001), The Transnational Capitalist Class, Malden, MA:: Blackwell;.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Sultana, Diner. ( 2013), in-person interview with A. Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh , 30 December.
  56. Yusuf, Huma. ( 2013), Mapping Digital Media: Pakistan, Washington, DC and New York:: Open Society Foundations;, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/mapping-digital-media-pakistan. Accessed 13 November 2019.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Zhao, Yuezhi. ( 2004;), ‘ The state, the market, and media control in China. ’, in P. Thomas. (ed.), Who Owns the Media? Global Trends and Local Resistances, London:: Zed Books;, pp. 179212.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Rahman, Anis. ( 2020;), ‘ Not public service broadcaster but public service roles: A political history of state-broadcasting in Bangladesh. ’, Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 11:2, pp. 207225, doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc_00019_1
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/iscc_00019_1
Loading
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test