How Political Interference Shapes Investigative Journalism in Mofussil Regions: Evidence from Bangladesh
Presented by
Sarwar Kamal
Lecturer
Department of Journalism and Media Studies
BGC Trust University Bangladesh
Email: sarwarkamal@bgctub.ac.bd
Introduction
Silencing the Watchdogs
Journalist Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin (August, 2025) was stabbed to death.
Journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim (June, 2023) was beaten to death.
Introduction: Mofussil Context
Investigative Journalism
Mofussil Regions
Literature Review
Research Problem and Gap
Research Questions
RQ1: Forms
What forms of political interference do mofussil journalists in Bangladesh encounter?
RQ2: Affect
How do these pressures affect the quantity and quality of investigative journalism in regional contexts?
RQ3: Coping
What coping mechanisms do journalists employ, and what support structures exist or are lacking?
RQ4: Policy
What policy measures could be implemented to protect and promote investigative journalism in these regions?
Theoretical Framework
Political Economy of Media
Examines how ownership, market forces, and advertising revenue (economic dependencies) shape media content.
Media Capture Theory
Describes how political and economic elites systematically control media outlets to advance their own agendas.
Gatekeeping Theory
Examines the individual decisions by journalists and editors about which stories are published and which are killed.
Methodology
A mixed-methods design applied in this research
74
Journalists surveyed
40
District represented
20
In-depth interviews
Demographic Data
Demographic Data
Findings and Discussion
Findings and Discussion
58.1%
Received legal notices or lawsuits for their reporting.
62.2%
Charged or threatened under the ICT Act / Digital Security Act (DSA) / Cyber Security Act (CSA).
The Legal Weapon
Interviewee 5: “I was sued for defamation after exposing corruption in local government projects, even though my story was backed by documents.”
Findings and Discussion
The Economic Weapon
“When we tried to investigate a corruption scandal involving officials of a Chittagong Port Authority, the... Authority stopped giving advertisement to the newspaper... later my newspaper officials asked me to stop the story.”
Respondent-2
Findings and Discussion
Political Intimidation and Threats
Respondent 33: “For reporting on sand extraction from the Teesta River... I was attacked at a sand extraction site. My car and belongings were vandalized.” This shows physical violence and property destruction linked to reporting on environmental or economic corruption, often tied to local political-business syndicates.
Respondent 43: “...I faced threats of abduction and killing. They labeled me a yellow journalist and organized a protest with my photo and banner...” Example of combined threats: physical violence, character assassination, and public shaming.
Findings and Discussion
The Chilling Effect (self-censorship)
Findings and Discussion
Gatekeeping as a Survival Strategy
Internal Gatekeeping
“Even before writing, I know which stories will bring trouble. We quietly drop those stories before they reach the newsroom.”
— Respondent 31
External Gatekeeping
“My bureau chief (head of the national media outlet in district level) most of the time did not send the news story to the head office as he was pressurized by the local political leaders and advertisers.”
— Respondent 10
Limitations
Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
Legal Reforms
The Cyber Security Act (CSA) must be reformed to prevent its use as a tool for silencing journalists. Legal aid networks for mofussil journalists are essential.
Institutional Protections
Media houses must provide formal contracts, living wages, and immediate legal/safety backing to their mofussil correspondents.
Economic Safeguards
Develop alternative funding models to reduce reliance on politically-controlled advertising revenue.
Thank you
Sarwar Kamal
Lecturer
Department of Journalism and Media Studies
BGC Trust University Bangladesh
Email: sarwarkamal@bgctub.ac.bd
Contact: +8801822336105
Q & A