Student journalism associations at universities in Bangladesh are helping aspiring journalists pursue their dreams of reporting, by providing them the opportunity to work with national media outlets and report on real issues — from campus controversies to local news stories.
Many of Bangladesh’s public universities have student journalism associations today, and private universities are following their lead. “These associations have become an integral part of university life,” said Jahidul Islam, a former president of Comilla University’s journalism association and now a reporter for The Business Standard. Jahangirnagar University established the country’s first such organization in 1972, and Dhaka University followed suit in 1985.
Here’s a look at how these associations have become powerful incubators of talent, helping shape a new generation of reporters with hands-on experience.
Broadening the pipeline to the press
Shahadat Hosen Anu, a 23-year-old student at Jagannath University in Dhaka had long dreamed of telling stories that mattered and amplifying voices of the unheard. But when he started at university, he wasn’t accepted into the journalism department. “I thought my dream had ended before it began,” said Anu.
He decided to join a student-run journalism association on campus that welcomed aspiring reporters from all academic backgrounds. After receiving basic training, Anu began contributing to Dhaka Mail, and today he serves as the university correspondent for Prothom Alo, the most widely circulated newspaper in the country.
“I never thought this was possible,” he said. “But through the guidance and support of my peers and seniors in the association, I’ve become part of the profession I once thought was out of reach.”
Md Kamruzzaman, an international correspondent for Turkey’s TRT World, began his career as a student reporter in Bangladesh over two decades ago. Kamruzzaman credits a journalism association on campus with launching his international career. “I didn’t study journalism, but my journey started with campus reporting. It gave me a voice, a platform, and the confidence to ask tough questions. Without that foundation, I wouldn't be where I am today,” he said.
Anu and Kamruzzaman’s stories mirror that of many young Bangladeshis who, despite not studying journalism formally, are chasing — and achieving — their dream careers.
Political coverage and activism
University campuses have long been political flashpoints in Bangladesh. Student activism and unrest often ripple out to influence national discourse. “Student politics are not just campus issues — they’re national issues,” said Anu. “And campus journalists are often the first to report them.”
Nowhere was this more evident than in the recent student-led uprising that ultimately ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. The protests began on campuses, and it was student reporters who documented the unrest in real time — at times at great personal risk. Several were injured while covering confrontations between students and security forces. Their reporting helped galvanize public support and turn a small protest into a national movement.
“In the protests, campus journalists — especially those from Dhaka University — played a pivotal role,” said Kamruzzaman. “Their real-time coverage helped mobilize public opinion nationwide. Without their reporting, the movement might not have gained the momentum it did.”
Exposing corruption, shaping policy
Over the years, many Bangladeshi campus journalists have become formidable watchdog reporters, exposing administrative corruption, student harassment, environmental degradation, and institutional injustice. Their reporting has held university authorities accountable and, in some cases, influenced policy decisions.
As a campus correspondent for The Daily Star, the country’s most widely read English-language daily, Md Asaduz Zaman, a graduate of Jahangirnagar University, was one of the journalists who in 2019 reported a major story about how leaders of the then-ruling party, the Awami League’s student wing, the Chhatra League, allegedly were demanding extortion from a large university development project.
The article ignited national outrage, and led to swift fallout. It implicated the university’s vice chancellor, and both the Chhatra League’s president and general secretary were removed from their positions. Given the influence of student political wings in Bangladesh's broader political system, the incident was a landmark in student journalism’s power to challenge entrenched interests.
A network of solidarity
From intimidation and physical threats to suspension by university authorities, campus journalists have found themselves caught in the crosshairs for uncovering uncomfortable truths. Against this backdrop, student journalism associations have become models of resilience and solidarity — often quickly and effectively responding to attacks on their members.
“When a campus journalist is targeted, other campus journalism organizations across the country immediately rally in support,” said Fatema Tuz Zinia, former president of the Gopalgonj Science and Technology University Journalists' Association. “They issue joint statements, form human chains, organize protests, and amplify the issue until it reaches national attention.”
In 2019, Zinia herself became a symbol of this solidarity when she was suspended after collecting information from university sources and filing a report critical of administrative irregularities. In response, student journalists from universities across the country took to the streets. They held coordinated demonstrations and flooded media outlets with press statements demanding justice.
The mounting pressure led to the resignation of the university’s then-vice chancellor. “I received overwhelming support,” said Zinia. “My fellow campus journalists made it clear that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Without their backing, I might have never been reinstated.”
Career building
Today, many mainstream outlets now offer payment to student journalists they work with — a development that validates their work and eases financial burdens.
“For some, journalism income replaces the need for private tutoring jobs, and more importantly, it keeps them focused on reporting,” said Dr. Shah Mohammad Nistar Jahan Kabir, a professor of mass communication and journalism at Jagannath University.
Bringing student journalists under the national wage board would be a positive step, he continued. In Bangladesh, the wage board is established to define and propose enhanced salaries and other benefits for journalists and employees working at media outlets.
“It would legitimize their work and inspire more young people to see journalism as a viable career," he said.
إقرأوا المزيد من المقالات لـ
