It is urgent to reform the auditing of newspaper circulation figures. There is corruption in the current system. The conditions for being listed in the media list include a minimum circulation number. For example, for newspapers published from Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisional cities, it is 6000, from divisional other towns it is 4000, and from other cities it is 3000. This should be the number of sold copies, not the circulation number, which will be subject to verification of paid bills. Newspapers will be media-listed if they have three thousand sold copies in a divisional city outside Dhaka and one thousand in a district city.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Media Media
Sub Domain
Newspaper
Source of Reform Proposals
Mass Media Reforms Commission
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
This reform proposal, articulated in the Media Reform Commission Report, was officially initiated.
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 20-Jul-26
On 9 April 2026, the Information and Broadcasting Minister acknowledged widespread irregularities in reported newspaper-circulation figures and stated that false circulation information must be stopped. He indicated that corrective action within the Department of Films and Publications and consultation on a new advertising policy were under consideration.
Observation
    No revised circulation-audit methodology, paid-copy verification mechanism or media-listing guideline has yet been formally introduced.
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Related Reforms

It is necessary for the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to conduct annual surveys to verify the expectations and actual experiences of listeners, viewers, and readers regarding the media.
Reform Proposed
a. Eliminating gender discrimination in recruitment, placement, and training to ensure the participation of all genders at all levels of the media; b. Preparing gender-sensitive codes of conduct in each media outlet and establishing systems for providing information, discussion, training, and monitoring for effective implementation of the code of conduct; ensuring infrastructure (e.g., separate toilets, childcare centres) for the smooth participation of all genders; c. Ensuring the utmost caution in the safety and protection of journalists of all genders, prioritising the needs of women; providing transportation arrangements for safe travel; d. Establishing a complaints redress cell in each media office as per the High Court directive on preventing sexual harassment (2009); e. Taking mental health protection measures to cope with various types of pressure in journalism; f. Ensuring that women receive proper maternity leave and do not face any discrimination upon returning to work after leave; g. Formulating clear guidelines and rules for how women will be presented; preparing policies on not publishing or broadcasting stereotypical ideas that create hatred, animosity, or negative attitudes towards women, or hinder their smooth presence in all fields; h. Highlighting the multifaceted roles and participation of women in society; ensuring that the voice and perspective of women are reflected in any news/feature; i. Preparing clear guidelines for language use to avoid direct or indirect humiliation of women through words or descriptions.
Reform Initiated
More research-based knowledge is needed on media literacy’s methods, effectiveness, evaluation, etc.
Reform Proposed
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Glossary

Last Updated: 14th December 2025

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