The role of two Bangla and one English daily newspapers in

promoting good governance in Bangladesh

Dr. Rezwan-ul-Alam
Adjunct Faculty, Media and Communication, Independent University, Bangladesh
rezwanalam@gmail.com
The media's inherent power to give voice to the people and hold the governments accountable
and thus contribute to good governance are evident from several studies. The Bangladesh press
acquired immense political power since independence. During 1975 and 1982, a section of
journalists and newspapers were largely responsible for creating a psychological framework in
favor of military intervention into politics. However, since the journey of a new democratic
phase in 1991, the newspapers in Bangladesh acquired a corporate character as a results of
globalization and concentrated more in promoting good governance issues in the country.
This article analyses news and post-editorials on three thematic areas of good governance:
transparency, accountability and rule of law in two leading Bangla and one English dailies to
identify if their editorial stance during 2013-2016 contributed in promoting good governance in
the country. Four questions were posited during the analysis: a) what was the nature of messages
transmitted by news and post-editorials of these three newspapers? b) what reaction was
generated from the government and the citizen following the publications of their news and posteditorials? c) what actions were taken by the government in regard to public opinion created by
those news and post-editorials? and, d) what was the final outcome in terms of policy
implications of their news reporting and post-editorials?
The analysis found that the three newspapers sufficiently raised public awareness about multidimensional challenges on three selected governance indicators and created demand for good
governance from the citizens. However, the negative portrayal of the government's images by
these newspapers failed to generate necessary conditions of a supportive political will, which
was imperative for taking policy reforms initiatives. The government's indifferent attitude
towards adhering to international press freedom principles and sustained 'denial syndrome'
against critical newspapers' positioning of good governance issues further compounded the
situation. The conflicting relations between the government and the media left the citizens bereft
of the kinds of information and analyses they need to advance their concerns and interests about
good governance. This article offers few recommendations to enhance relationship between the
government and media to improve the overall good governance scenario in Bangladesh.
Key words: good governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, press freedom,
newspapers,
References:
Alam, Rezwan (2008) Military-media relations in Bangladesh 1975-1990, Palok Publishers,
Dhaka
Sen, Amartya (2004) 'What the Point of Press Freedom? World Association of Newspapers, Paris
Norris, Pippa (2000) A Virtuous Circle, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
World Bank (2002) Right to Tell: The Role of Mass Media in Economic Development,
Washington
END/