Written evidence submitted by Mr Ramen
Roy
BBC WORLD SERVICE
I think there is a general patronising attitude
on behalf of the BBC Bengali service towards the Bangladesh government.
On several occasions, many listeners raised the issue in communication
with the service. But on every occasion, the usual response has
been that they decide their agenda on the basis of news value
and at the same time it was mentioned that 90% of the listeners
of the service are from Bangladesh.
I am not sure whether this justifies the editorial
policy of a global news organisation like the BBC.
For a specific instance, very recently, maybe
in August or September, the Bengali service has broadcast a report
which allowed Tarek Rahman, son of the Bangladeshi prime minister,
Khaleda Zia, to state that the BBC has admitted its mistake in
reporting a statement made by Mr Rahman on the terrorist activities
in the country. It seemed that the Bengali service was intimidated
by the ire it faced from the Bangladesh government.
The Bengali service also didn't broadcast, at
least I didn't hear, any report when some US congressmen censored
Bangladesh's prime minister for the attacks carried out in her
country.
30 October 2005
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