ABSTRACT

The emergence of neoliberal and free market economic systems that have led to the deregulation of the media have ensured the proliferation of numerous private and commercial media outlets in Bangladesh. This chapter provides a brief historical account of the development of the media in Bangladesh, maps its trends and examines the challenges faced by journalists and the resulting impact on public debate. It outlines the ongoing contestation of media policy making, and situates the growing importance of social media against the backdrop of the subsiding digital divide and ensuing class and cultural politics. The chapter suggests that in the era of economic globalization the media has emerged as an influential factor in the politics, history and culture of Bangladesh. Some journalists admit that hiding the corruption and maleficence of mobile operators and real estate agencies has become pervasive among both print and electronic media.