Most people want BTV, Betar to remain under govt control: BBS survey

Although there have been periodic demands for granting full autonomy to Bangladesh Television, or BTV, and Bangladesh Betar, a survey indicates that most people support keeping these two state-owned media outlets under government control.

The survey was conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) for the Media Reform Commission.

It was carried out in the first week of January, covering more than 45,000 households across Bangladesh.

Findings from the survey reveal that while people read printed newspapers less frequently, they do access online editions via mobile devices.

In times of national crises or emergencies, television remains the primary source of information for the public. However, radio has significantly declined in relevance as a news source.

Respondents expressed a desire for an independent, unbiased media, free from government and political influence.

However, the majority still believe that Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, or radio, should remain under government control.

According to the survey, 56.47 per cent of respondents said BTV should remain under government control, while 55.35 per cent held the same opinion regarding Bangladesh Betar.

On the other hand, 31.45 per cent of respondents opposed government control over BTV. When asked about government control on BTV, nearly 2 per cent chose not to respond, while 10 per cent said they were unsure.

30.66pc OPPOSE GOVT CONTROL OF BETAR

According to the survey, 30.66 per cent of respondents opposed government control over Bangladesh Betar.

When asked whether they believed Betar should remain under government control, 2 per cent preferred not to respond, while 11.87 per cent said they were unsure.

As part of a broader state reform initiative, the interim government has established the Media Reform Commission to recommend reforms required for making the media independent, strong, and objective.

Veteran journalist Kamal Ahmed leads the 11-strong commission, which was formed on October 18 last year.

The commission is expected to submit its report to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus within 90 days.

Presenting the public opinion survey summary, the Media Reform Commission said the findings reflect public sentiment regarding the role of the media during the July Movement.

The survey was conducted to understand the perspectives of readers, viewers, and listeners in light of the public's dissatisfaction with media coverage during that period.

This is the first nationwide comprehensive survey on the use of media.

DECLINE IN NEWSPAPER AND RADIO CONSUMPTION

According to the National Public Opinion Survey on Media, 73 per cent of respondents said they do not read printed newspapers. Among them, 46 per cent said they do not feel the need to read newspapers.

For television, the survey found that more than 53 per cent of people do not watch TV. However, 65 per cent of respondents reported that they still watch television.

The situation for radio is even more dire.

As many as 94 per cent of respondents said they do not listen to the radio. Among them, 54 per cent added that they do not feel the need for it, while nearly 35 per cent cited the unavailability of radio sets as a reason.

The survey was conducted across 64 districts, covering 45,000 households and collecting responses from individuals aged 10 and above.

The findings reflect the changing media consumption habits, the reach of different media platforms, public trust in the media, and perceptions of media independence.

MOBILE PRIMARY NEWS SOURCE, FACEBOOK MOST TRUSTED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

The survey found that while most people do not read printed newspapers, 59 per cent of respondents access online news editions via mobile phones. Meanwhile, only 2.5 per cent read online newspapers on computers, laptops, or tablets.

Overall, 88 per cent of respondents use mobile phones for news consumption, whereas only 7 per cent rely on computers for the same purpose.

Among social media platforms, 31 per cent of respondents trust Facebook as a news source, followed by YouTube at 16.5 per cent.

When it comes to learning or gaining knowledge, people rely more on teachers than on traditional media.

A total of 42 per cent of respondents consider teachers the most trustworthy source of information in this regard.