State-run broadcaster Bangladesh Television (BTV) has reported expenses 32 times higher than its income, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan. Responding to a parliamentary question from MP Fazle Huda, the minister said BTV earned Tk 8.05 crore including taxes in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, while spending Tk 254.18 crore. The statement was presented during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The minister also detailed BTV’s income and expenditure from fiscal years 2020–21 to 2024–25, showing consistent deficits each year. He further informed parliament about ongoing initiatives to counter misinformation through the ‘BanglaFact’ program, which has identified over 300 Facebook accounts and 199 X accounts spreading false or misleading content. Additionally, the ministry is working to amend the Press Council Act 1974 to set educational qualifications and registration requirements for journalists.

Swapan added that Bangladesh currently has 55 private television channels, of which 39 are broadcasting, and 1,436 daily newspapers nationwide. There are also 474 registered online news portals across various categories.