Ministry of Information

An Overview:

The Ministry of Information has been playing a catalytic role in disseminating information to the people through print and electronic media. This Ministry transacts its business through some next step agencies like Press Information Department (PID), Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television (BTV), Department of Mass Communication (DMC), Department of Films & Publications (DFP), Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA), Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC), Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha (BSS), Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), Bangladesh Film Censor Board and Bangladesh Press Council. It has also conducted its extra-territorial activities through the press wings stationed in Washington DC, New York, London, New Delhi, Islamabad & Calcutta.

In this era of information technology having free flow of information, the Ministry of Information has a challenging role to play. As per allocation of business this Ministry has to perform the following chartered assignments:-

  • Publicity policy-internal and external.
  • Audio-visual, pictorial and press coverage of all activities of the President, Prime Minister/Chief Adviser and Ministers/Advisers both at home and abroad.
  • Coordination of Publicity activities of the different Ministries/Divisions and Bangladesh Missions abroad.
  • Press relations including journalists’ delegation and other media delegation.
  • Preparation and release of communiqués, press notes, handouts, etc.
  • Preservation and interpretation of the policies and activities of the Government of Bangladesh through press media.
  • Advising Government through press; keeping Government informed of the main trends of public opinion as reflected in the press and liaison between Government and the press.
  • Administration of Press and Publication Law.
  • Administration of Radio and Television and all other matters relating to broadcasting through Bangladesh Betar & Bangladesh Television.
  • Policy regarding government advertisement.
  • Community listening Schemes.
  • Preparation of Media lists.
  • Compulsory screening of Films.
  • Analysis and interpretation of public opinion as reflected in the national press.
  • Sanctioning of Cinematograph films for exhibition.
  • Administration of Cinematograph Act: Cinematograph and Censorship.
  • Liaison with International Organizations and matters relating to treaties and agreements with other countries.

1. Press Information Department (PID):

Press Information Department publicizes the polices and programs of the Government through communication media. It issues press notes, handouts, features, articles, photos, accreditation cards to media men and coordinates media coverage. PID has three regional information offices located at Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi by which the actions and policies of the Government are being informed instantly to the people and receives their reactions through the same channel of communication. For more details please log on www.bdpressinform.org .

2. Bangladesh Betar:

Bangladesh Betar a public service broadcaster has been broadcasting 220 hours 25 minutes programme daily from its 11 regional stations, 5 units (Farm broadcasting , Commercial service, External service and Population service) using 27 transmitters. It also broadcasts its programme from six FM transmitters to educate, inform, entertain and motivate listeners. The types of the programme are song, drama,talk, interview, discussion, talk show, magazine, feature, jingle, spot, reporting, traffic reporting, composite programme, musical programme, answer to the letters, news, news commentary etc. External service of Bangladesh Betar broadcasts programme in six languages namely Bengali, English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepalese and Arabic. Every day the Central News Organization (CNO) of Bangladesh Betar transmits as many as 22 national news bulletins of various duration once every hours starting at 7.00 am in the morning till midnight. For more details please log on www.betar.bd.org.

3. Bangladesh Television (BTV):

Bangladesh Television is a state-owned television channel which telecasts news and multidimensional programs aiming at presenting information, promoting values, ethics & culture and motivating people towards democracy and development activities. BTV has a satellite channel which covers Russia to the north, Australia to the south, Japan to the east and Cyprus to the west. It has two stations in Dhaka and Chittagong and fourteen sub-stations across the country. BTV’s terrestrial transmission covers 95% geographical area of Bangladesh. It is not only an entertainment channel but also a public service broadcaster and is committed to the people for its overall activities.

4. Department of Mass Communication(DMC):

The Department of Mass Communication was originally established in 1924 and it was reconstructed in the present shape in 1972. The main objective of the Department is to disseminate information on the policies, programmes and activities of the Government to the people through direct mass contact and inter-personal communication (IPC). It also carries problems & reactions of the people to the Government for formulation of appropriate policies.

The Department of Mass Communication through its 68 offices countrywide uses the Interpersonal Communication (IPC) technique to inform rural people living in 68 thousand villages to redress their grievances and involved them in the nation building activities.

DMC has a large fleet of mobile cinema vans equipped with multimedia and cinema projectors. DMC projects the government programs relating to health, mother & child care, family planning, sanitation program, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, education, birth registration, Bird flu, movement against corruption and violence etc. It arranges distribution of publicity materials and holds community meetings, women gathering, Orientation Workshop for Opinion Leaders and Journalists, children fair, film show and folk song sessions. At the time of natural calamity, the mobile vans inform the people living in the coastal areas of the country to prepare themselves against the onslaught of cyclone and high tidal wave. The Department also provides sound system in national and international events.

The activities of DMC inculcate the rural people an urge for a better life and arouse in him the consciousness and eagerness to make the best use of the development schemes and nation building projects. It also helps to make the people aware of their rights and obligation towards the state. It brings the people closer to Government so that the country marches towards progress and prosperity. For more details please log on www.masscom.gov.bd.

5. Department of Films & Publications(DFP):

The Department of Films & Publications makes films and publications to inspire the people for participation in development activities. It issues certificates for publication and registration of newspapers, periodicals and books. DFP supplies government advertisements among the media listed newspapers and periodicals. DFP produces documentary films on history and heritage and news films for exhibition to the urban and rural audiences through cinema halls and the mobile cinema vans of the Department of Mass Communication. It also publishes three periodical magazines in which the history, culture, literature and development activities of Bangladesh are reflected which are widely at circulated home and abroad.

6. Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA):

Bangladesh Film Archive preserves the cine-cultural heritage and history of the country. It has a collection of 2115 feature films, documentaries, news reels, short films, video tapes and DVDs. Bangladesh Film Archive has a library of 53,175 collections including film related book posters, song books, scripts, synopsis of films, films, film journals & magazines, still photographs and memorabilia. For more details please log on www.bfa.gov.bd.

7. Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB):

Press Institute of Bangladesh imparts training to journalists and of both electronic and print media at national and regional levels . Along with arranging regular foundation training for journalists, it organizes workshops, dialogues and seminars on gender, children and women, reproductive health, environment and on current issues like Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS etc. It publishes media related books, journals and features. It publishes a monthly media journal named ‘Niriksha’. PIB also conducts research on media related issues. It runs a one year Post Graduate Training Course on Journalism. It has a rich library and reference section. For more details please log on www.pib.gov.bd.

8. National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC):

National Institute of Mass Communication is the apex training center of the Ministry of Information which gives training to the Bangladesh Civil Service Information Cadre officers and other public information officials. It gives technical and professional training to the officials of the Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar . It also provides training to the electronic media personnel of private TV and Radio and arranges training program for the free-lance mediamen. The Institute regularly holds national and international workshops and seminars on media related matters.

9. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS):

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha carries out the responsibility of national news agency by securing news from and abroad and disseminating the same to the people of the country in general through the print and electronic media, both in Bangla and English. The Sangstha secures worldwide political, diplomatic, financial, economic, commercial, cultural and sports news from international news agencies . It has also news agencies of other countries for securing as well as disseminating news. BSS has one bureau office in Chittagong, offices in seven cities and towns across the country and correspondents in 64 districts besides one outstation in New Delhi, India. For more details please log on www.bssnews.net.

10. Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC):

Bangladesh Film Development Corporation promotes the local film industry in producing quality films. It has studios, camera, dubbing, recording, processing and printing facilities for production of films. BFDC has a development project at Kabirpur in the outskirts of the capital Dhaka spreading over 105 acres of land, with vision of a film city. Recently FDC has started transferring its technology of pre-producing as well as post producing equipments from Analogue to Digital technology. For more details please log on www.fdc.gov.bd/fdc.

11. Bangladesh Film Censor Board (BFCB):

Bangladesh Film Censor Board examines the locally produced films and all imported films for commercial purposes and non-commercial use. It also censors the films imported by the Foreign Missions through diplomatic channel. The Board act as the registration authority of film clubs and societies and to regulate activities including granting permission for screening of films.

Bangladesh Film Censor Board checks violations of Acts and Rules regarding film Censors and Film Club Acts. It performs other works as assigned by the Government from time to time. These include examination and preview of films for foreign films festivals held in Bangladesh. The Board gives secretarial assistance and manage screening of films examined by the Appellate Committee. For more details please log on www.fcb-bd.org.

12. Bangladesh Press Council (BPC):

Bangladesh Press Council is a quasi-judicial body, for the purpose of preserving the freedom of the press and maintaining and improving the standard for news papers and news agencies of Bangladesh, through investigation visa-viz trial under section 12 of the Press Council Act,1974 and protecting the rights of the people who are aggrieved by reporter's published news, views of the press and electronic media. It also provides training for court reporters.