Abstract
The British colonial model permitted a degree of local autonomy as long as the stability of its rule was not threatened. To maintain control, British colonial regimes enacted a series of laws and regulations to limit the capacity of opposition to the colonial government to mobilize public support. These governing instruments have survived decolonization, in Pakistan and later in Bangladesh, as a result of their continuing utility for those in power. A review of their history is helpful in understanding the contemporary use of these instruments. This article explores the history of the relationship between government and the press during the long period of British colonial rule and the quarter century when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan.