Military-media Relations in Bangladesh 1975-1990

A new book titled ‘Military-media Relations in Bangladesh 1975-1990' has just been published and is now available in bookstores in New Market and Shahbag in Dhaka. The author is Rezwan-ul-Alam. Hugh Stephenson, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, City University, London, has written an introduction.

This pioneering study explores some selected aspects of mass communication in relation to direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh from 1975 to 1990. The study tries to give answers to questions like these: Did Bangladeshi journalists facilitate the imposition of military rule? Did some influential journalists actively conspire to help bring in military rule? Did a section of journalists receive benefits and favors from the military governments? Were military rulers responsible for the deterioration of standards of journalism in the country? Was the role of the journalists’ positive in fighting the autocracy as has been portrayed by the journalists themselves?

The study also explored the issues such as: a) what were the general views of the Bangladeshi editors on military rule and the media? b) what were the views? f the journalists about various aspects of military-media relations in Bangladesh? c) what was the attitude of the Bangladesh army towards the media? d) what were the media policies of the military governments? e) how did the local press cover the imposition of military rule? f) what was the role of the journalists in upholding the ideals of the freedom of the press? d) how did the British press cover the reports on Bangladesh military in the years 1972-1990? g) what role did the BBC and VOA's Bengali Services play during 15 years of direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh; and h) what were the effects of direct and indirect military rule on the functioning of media? This ground-breaking work attempts to answer those questions raised above.