Silenced Voices, Precarious Lives: Deepening Crisis of Rural Journalists

In Bangladesh, particularly in its rural regions, journalism remains one of the most paradoxical professions: publicly respected, yet privately precarious. From the capital’s bustling newsrooms to the remote districts of the north, those who document society’s truths often struggle to secure their own survival, believe it or not. Across generations, the pattern repeats: dedication without security, recognition without stability and sacrifice without safety nets.

A Profession Built on Uncertainty
Over the past decade, the number of journalists in both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh has increased significantly for various reasons. Yet their survival remains uncertain. The stories emerging from northern Bangladesh (Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Panchagarh districts) paint a stark and consistent picture. Journalists spend decades serving the public interest, only to face financial instability, inadequate healthcare and, in many cases, abandonment during times of crisis.
The late Sheikh Kallol Ahmed’s life encapsulates this contradiction. A journalist for nearly four decades, he held senior editorial roles and contributed to multiple national publications throughout his career. Yet when kidney disease struck, the absence of institutional support turned his illness into a prolonged struggle. After his death in 2014, his family was left to navigate survival largely on their own, relying on sporadic assistance rather than structured security. His story is not an exception; it is a pattern.

When Journalists Become the Story
In Panchagarh, a journalist’s family is now facing a deepening crisis. Journalist Sajjadur Rahman Sajjad, once a voice for the voiceless, now finds himself dependent on others to survive. Diagnosed with kidney failure, he requires dialysis three times a week, costing tens of thousands of taka each month. Despite working with multiple media outlets, his income remains irregular and insufficient to cover his treatment costs. “I have written countless stories about people’s suffering,” he said. “Now I am trapped inside my own.” This inversion, where journalists become subjects of the very crises they once reported, highlights a systemic failure rather than individual misfortune.

Rural-Urban Divide
One of the most significant structural issues is the disparity between journalists in Dhaka and those in rural or district areas. Journalists from the northern regions, in particular, often face discrimination compared to their counterparts in other divisions. While some journalists in the capital benefit from wage boards, institutional contracts and limited protections, their counterparts in districts operate in a largely unregulated environment. Many receive honourariums instead of salaries, often delayed for months, or even years.
Veteran journalist Mohammad Nuruzzaman’s experience underscores this divide. With over four decades in the profession, he recalls periods when salaries remained unpaid for up to 36 months. Even basic family needs, such as providing food during Eid, became moments of distress. “Respect does not feed a family,” he noted. “And in this profession, sometimes even respect is not guaranteed.”

Erosion of Professional Integrity
Beyond economic hardship, journalism in Bangladesh is also facing an identity crisis. Industry veterans point to the rise of politically aligned reporting, unregulated online platforms, and so-called “citizen journalism” as factors eroding public trust. Without enforceable standards or accountability mechanisms, the distinction between professional and non-professional journalism has become increasingly blurred.

Where the Framework Fails
Several institutional failures define the current crisis:
✦  Lack of wage enforcement: Existing wage board provisions are inconsistently applied, particularly outside Dhaka.
✦   Absence of contracts: Many journalists work without formal employment agreements.
✦    No healthcare security: Illness often leads to financial collapse.
✦    Irregular payments: Honorariums replace stable salaries, creating chronic insecurity for journalists working outside major cities.
✦    No pension or insurance: Long-term service does not translate into post-retirement support. Even where assistance exists, such as grants from journalist welfare bodies, it remains reactive rather than preventive.

Human Cost
The consequences extend beyond individual journalists to their families and communities. Children’s education is disrupted. Medical treatment is delayed or abandoned. Skilled professionals leave the industry altogether, weakening the quality of journalism itself. In many cases, the profession demands personal sacrifices that go unnoticed—missed family moments, unpaid labour and constant exposure to risk without protection.

A Roadmap for Reform
Experts, journalist leaders and field reporters consistently point to several urgent reforms. A standardised, enforceable wage board must apply across all levels—national, district and upazila. Minimum salaries should be clearly defined and legally binding. Media organisations must provide written contracts, ensuring job security, defined roles and legal protection. Mandatory health, life and accident insurance schemes should be introduced, especially for journalists covering high-risk assignments. Long-serving journalists should not face financial insecurity after retirement. Bringing online platforms under proper registration and regulatory frameworks can help restore accountability and professional standards. And finally, training, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are needed to rebuild public trust and distinguish professional journalism from unverified reporting.
At its core, the crisis raises a fundamental question: how does a society value those who tell its stories? Journalists in Bangladesh continue to expose corruption, document injustice and amplify marginalised voices. Yet their own struggles often remain invisible— unreported, unsupported and unresolved. Without reform, the consequences may be irreversible. Talented individuals may abandon journalism altogether, leaving the field vulnerable to misinformation and declining standards. But with structural change, the profession can regain both dignity and sustainability.
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The writer is a journalist