Media Resources Development Initiative

Media Resources Development Initiative MRDI is a multi-disciplinary, not-for-profit, non-government organisation as well as a company with limited liabilities.

MRDI began its journey in 2001 and has become a leading media development organisation in Bangladesh with the vision to establish a just and open society. An ardent advocate of right to information, MRDI was among the prime campaigners that brought about the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) in Bangladesh. Always keen to alleviate the plight of the marginalised communities, this organisation also

has a commendable footprint in corporate social responsibility (CSR). But over the years, MRDI has emerged as a premier media development organisation conducting a host of other activities geared towards its mission to build a strong and independent media that empowers the people and demands accountability in all spheres of life through its strategic objectives. In line with its goal to build a free and objective media in Bangladesh, this organisation regularly commissions research, conducts surveys and produces a wide variety of materials to aid journalists and journalism. Besides its repertoire of reporting handbooks and toolkits, MRDI has embarked on a new initiative to create a repository of data and statistics that will strive to become the one-stop solution of journalists’ data needs. MRDI is most noted for training journalists of all platforms and mediums in Bangladesh because of the quality of its trainers, depth of the topics and effectiveness of the sessions. The organisation’s initiative to strengthen investigative journalism in Bangladesh can be said to have led to a renewed interest for in-depth investigations both among media outlets and individual reporters. In keeping with its commitment to people’s right to information, MRDI strives to build an environment where citizens and officials do not view each other as adversaries when one is seeking information from the other. Towards that end, MRDI’s partnership with government agencies and engagement with citizens have strengthened the demand for information while enhancing capabilities of officials. An emerging culture of pro-active disclosure stemming from heightened commitment to openness bears testimony to MRDI’s extensive efforts and contribution to governance. The organisation’s aspiration for a free and independent media and its unrelenting efforts to help strengthen the news industry as well as its practitioners has led to substantial goodwill across the media landscape of Bangladesh. MRDI prides itself as an organisation that practices the same standards of transparency and governance as those it preaches and advocates in its quest for stronger democracy.

27/05/2026
MRDI is excited to join the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)’s global network of organizations working to advan...
18/05/2026

MRDI is excited to join the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)’s global network of organizations working to advance and .

Announcement: https://gfmd.info/gfmd-welcomes-19-new-members/

Amid our 25-year celebration, this membership marks an important milestone in our journey to strengthen collaboration, learning, and collective advocacy with leading media development actors around the world.

We believe this opportunity will further enhance our work in promoting quality and ethical journalism, building newsroom capacity, expanding access to information, and supporting a more independent and accountable news media ecosystem in Bangladesh.

18/05/2026

ডেটা সাংবাদিকতায় আগ্রহী? আপনার জন্য সুখবর!

বাংলাদেশে প্রথমবারের মতো ডেটা সাংবাদিকতা অনলাইন কোর্স নিয়ে এসেছে এমআরডিআই!
ভিডিও লেকচার, পাঠ ও হাতেকলমে প্র্যাকটিসের মাধ্যমে এই কোর্স সম্পন্নকারীরা ডেটা ব্যবহার করে সংবাদ তৈরিতে আত্মবিশ্বাসী হয়ে উঠবেন।
সহজ ভাষায় নির্মিত কোর্সটি করতেও পারবেন বিনামূল্যে, সফল হলে মিলবে সনদ।
ডেটা দিয়ে গল্প বলার রোমাঞ্চকর যাত্রা শুরু করতে ভিজিট করুন কমেন্টে দেওয়া লিংকে 👇

Interested in data journalism? Good news for you!

For the first time in Bangladesh, MRDI is offering an online course on Data Journalism.
Through video lectures, lessons, and hands-on practice, people completing this course will be confident in using data to produce reports.
This free course is designed in a user-friendly language without any technical jargons. Complete it successfully and you will get a certificate.
To begin your exciting journey of telling stories with data, visit the link in the comments.

As MRDI celebrates 25 years of its journey, we are stepping into a new era of institutional transformation through the o...
14/05/2026

As MRDI celebrates 25 years of its journey, we are stepping into a new era of institutional transformation through the official Go Live of our ERP automation system powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials.

By integrating accounting, human resources, administration and procurement under one digital platform, MRDI is advancing toward a smarter, more efficient, and increasingly paperless future with stronger transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency.

The milestone was marked at the MRDI office in the presence of representatives from both organizations including Managing Director, Rupali Haque Chowdhury and Group Chief Financial Officer & Director, Sajjad Rahim Chowdhury of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman and Fojo Media Institute’s Project Manager, Bangladesh, Maria Peterson alongside team members from both sides.

This initiative is a part of the project "Improving Quality Journalism in Bangladesh” in partnership with Fojo Media Institute, Sweden.

A free press cannot survive on freedom alone, it also requires accountability, audience trust and professional integrity...
13/05/2026

A free press cannot survive on freedom alone, it also requires accountability, audience trust and professional integrity. To contribute to this important conversation, MRDI has released a policy paper on ‘Media Self-Regulation in Bangladesh: the cornerstone of an accountable free press’ to explore practical and industry-led pathways to strengthen accountability within the news media ecosystem.

The paper highlights how transparent editorial practices, ethical standards and audience-focused grievance mechanisms can help rebuild confidence of the audience in journalism while safeguarding press freedom. Rather than external control, it advocates for professional self-governance as a sustainable approach to responsible journalism and encourage dialogue among ecosystem actors on building a more accountable and trusted news media landscape in Bangladesh.

To read the policy paper, click the link in the comment section.

09/05/2026

Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 | Day 02

Closing session
The concluding session looks back on the two days with brief remarks on key highlights and takeaways.

Wrapping up two days of intense conversations, organisers will also provide a preview of upcoming initiatives and the road ahead for investigative journalism, press freedom and media reform in Bangladesh.

Vote of thanks: Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director, Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI)

09/05/2026

Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 | Day 02
2nd Half

09/05/2026

Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 | Day 02

Media Self-Regulation in Bangladesh: Professional Oversight, Accountability and Grievance Redressal
Bangladesh’s news media landscape is at a critical juncture where rapid expansion of news outlets has outpaced the development of internal accountability and institutional strength. For too long, opaque ownership patterns and political interference have resulted in downgrading public confidence leaving a void in media trust and editorial independence. This discussion will address the gap shifting the focus from external enforcement to the potential of professional oversight.

It will explore how accountability can be transformed into a set of transparent and internally governed practices. Positioning self-regulation as a pragmatic framework to safeguard press freedom, this discussion seeks to provide newsrooms with the tools to reinforce ethical standards and address audience grievances directly. It is a vital conversation on rebuilding the social role of journalism through credibility and professional integrity.

The experts will discuss how newsroom policies, professional standards, and self-regulatory mechanisms can reinforce ethical journalism and public trust.

Moderator: Shakeel Anwar, Former Journalist, BBC

Speakers:
> AK Azad, Managing Director, Times Media Limited
> Dr. Joan Barata, International Media Law Expert
> Kamal Ahmed, Consulting Editor, The Daily Star
> Ayesha Kabir, Team Leader, Prothom Alo Web (English)

Last night, amid conversations, music, and moments of reflection, we celebrated 25 years of MRDI at the Gala Dinner & Cu...
09/05/2026

Last night, amid conversations, music, and moments of reflection, we celebrated 25 years of MRDI at the Gala Dinner & Cultural Evening.

The evening was enriched by reflections from Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, who spoke about the importance of strengthening investigative journalism, media ethics and accountability, information integrity, inclusion, and collaborative partnerships — themes that remain central to the discussions at Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 and the future of journalism in Bangladesh.

Journalists, editors, development partners, and friends from across Bangladesh and beyond came together not only to share an evening, but to honour a journey shaped by courage, solidarity, resilience, and an enduring belief in the role of journalism in society.

We look back with deep gratitude at the countless people who walked the long journey with us over the years, through changing times, difficult moments, and new possibilities.

09/05/2026

Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 | Day 02

Politico-Governance Ecosystem and Free Media
This plenary will critically examine the political and governance landscape that determines the boundaries of press freedom in Bangladesh. Rather than viewing journalism in a vacuum, the speakers will analyse the complex interplay of state institutions and the press to understand how specific laws and regulations either serve as catalysts for free media or as instruments of constraint.

The discussion will tackle the delicate balance between necessary state oversight and the fundamental right to a free press to play its role to meet aspirations of democracy and accountable governance.

Moderator: Shakhawat Liton, Executive Editor, The Business Standard
Key Speaker: Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)

Speakers:
> Zaffar Abbas, Editor, Dawn
> Kamal Ahmed, Consulting Editor, The Daily Star
> Shakeel Anwar, former journalist, BBC
> Shahed Muhammad Ali, Editor, Daily Samakal

Address

8/19 Sir Syed Road (3rd Floor), Block-A, Mohammadpur
Dhaka
1207

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 05:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 05:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 05:00
Thursday 09:00 - 05:00
Saturday 09:00 - 05:00
Sunday 09:00 - 05:00

Telephone

+880248117412

Website

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