Three Organisations Sign MoUs to Tackle Media Harassment

In a significant step towards protecting women journalists, the Women Journalists Network Bangladesh (WJN-B) has signed two separate memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and the Institute of Psychology and Health (IPH). The agreements aim to prevent sexual harassment in the media and ensure legal and psychological support for victims.

The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, at a hotel in Dhaka. The initiative forms part of the “Strengthening Women Journalists Network to Tackle Sexual Harassment” project, conducted in collaboration with BBC Media Action.

Representing their organisations, the MoUs were signed by Maleka Banu, General Secretary of Mahila Parishad; Psychologist Nazmul Hossain, Director of IPH; and Angur Nahar Monty, Coordinator of WJN-B.

Objectives and Strategic Goals

BBC Media Action’s Country Director Md. Al Mamun highlighted the broader significance of the agreements, stating:
"These MoUs are more than formalities. They represent a collective commitment to establishing safety and justice within the media sector. Journalists will gain not only awareness but direct access to effective protection measures."

Maleka Banu emphasised the prevalence of harassment in workplaces and the difficulty men often have in understanding its impact:
"The Mahila Parishad has long worked to activate gender policies and harassment prevention committees within media institutions."

Nazmul Hossain of IPH noted that alongside legal remedies, addressing the psychological trauma of victims is equally important. Angur Nahar Monty added that the MoUs would enable field-level women journalists to receive prompt legal advice and mental health support in case of harassment.

Training and Workshops

The ceremony also featured insights from senior journalists Shahnaz Sharmin and Rita Nahar, as well as Rashedul Hasan and Arafat Siddiqui of BBC Media Action. Veteran journalists Amin Al Rashid, Mouli Islam, Jummatul Bida, and Nowrin Ahmed Monisha shared experiences from previous trainings.

Several academics and civil society members were present, including Associate Professor Syed Tanvir Rahman of Dhaka University, and representatives from Mahila Parishad such as Seema Moslem and Masuda Rehana Begum, alongside numerous journalists and media professionals.

Project Activities

Under the project, responder training sessions for journalists have already been conducted, along with policy-level brainstorming workshops. Efforts are now in the final stages to develop an international standard safety protocol for media organisations.

These partnerships are expected to strengthen the protection framework for women journalists, providing them with the resources to report harassment safely and access comprehensive legal and mental health support. The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the challenges faced by women in media and sets a benchmark for gender-sensitive practices across the industry.