In a notable administrative leadership change within Bangladesh’s state media infrastructure, professional journalist Kazi Jesin has been named as the new Director General of Bangladesh Television (BTV). The Ministry of Public Administration issued an official gazette notification on Thursday, 6 August, confirming her appointment on a contractual basis for a term of one year.
As outlined in the ministry’s directive, Kazi Jesin’s tenure will formally commence on the day she assumes office. The appointment carries a mandatory clause requiring her to relinquish all current professional commitments, including existing employment, commercial ventures, or administrative roles across government, semi-autonomous, or private bodies. The specific contractual terms, duties, and remuneration governing her tenure will be formalised through an approved deed of agreement.
Alongside her appointment, the Ministry of Public Administration published a separate notification cancelling the unexpired portion of the tenure of outgoing Director General Md. Mahbubul Alam, who had also been holding the post under a contractual arrangement.
This leadership transition arrives at a pivotal moment for the national television network. Founded in 1964 as a regional station under the Pakistan Television Corporation before transforming into Bangladesh’s state broadcaster following independence in 1971, BTV remains the nation’s premier public broadcast outlet. Operating out of its main broadcasting facility in Rampura, Dhaka, along with several terrestrial relay stations and sub-centres across the country, its signal reaches millions of viewers across both urban and rural regions.
In recent years, the state-run network has faced increasing pressure to modernize its technical infrastructure, diversify programming, and bolster editorial objectivity amidst fierce competition from private satellite networks and digital streaming platforms. Kazi Jesin, leveraging her extensive journalistic background, takes the helm during a broader period of administrative restructuring within state media bodies. Her key priorities over the next twelve months are expected to focus on managing core terrestrial services, advancing digital content strategies, and directing the network’s overall editorial strategy.
