Merger of BTV, Betar, BSS into single institution recommended

The Media Reform Commission has recommended merging Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) into a single institution to ensure optimal use of the state resources.

The name of the single institution could be Bangladesh Broadcasting Corporation or National Broadcasting Corporation.

The Media Reform Commission underscored the needs in its report handed over to Chief Adviser Prof Mohammed Yunus at his residence State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Saturday.

An 11-member team of the commission, led by its chief Kamal Ahmed, handed over the report to the chief adviser.

Later, Kamal Ahmed briefed the journalists about the summary of the report.

Currently, BTV, Betar and BSS operate under separate management and if television and radio function as two branches of a unified institution under one roof, it would ensure the optimal use of their resources, expertise and creativity.

Examples of such models include the BBC and DW, he said while talking to the reporters.

The news sections of the state-owned BTV and Betar were no longer familiar with professional journalism, they remained busy broadcasting government notes, state-arranged programmes and development stories, he said in his report.

In most cases, a government information (broadcast) officer leads the news divisions and those appointed as reporters are rarely allowed to work independently, he said.

Besides, despite having various flaws and weaknesses, the state-run news agency BSS has a professional newsroom. However, due to government control and politicisation, it has yet to become an ideal news agency, he said.

Earlier, the first Press Commission report recommended that there should be no state-owned news agency. In fact, many countries around the world do not have any state-run news agency, said Kalam.