BANGLADESH SECURITY agencies knocked off the air three
private TV channels in a bid to refrain them from live broadcast of opposition
rally, without any prior notices.
The security agencies blocked for
three and half hours in the afternoon the TV channels Ekushey Television (ETV), Bangla Vision and Islamic TV, when the
rally was in progress.
The newsroom editors of the private
satellite channels confirmed that government agencies asked Cable Operators'
Association of Bangladesh (COAB) to suspend the telecast as the channels were
planning to go live from the rally venue. The COAB officials acknowledged
receiving the instruction.
However, the channels were available to the
viewers around 6:30 pm, an hour after opposition leader Khaleda Zia finished
her speech.
Earlier on March 10, the private television
channels have been discouraged by the telecommunication regulatory body
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) not to broadcast live
the main opposition rally on Monday.
Many private television channels are in a dilemma
whether it would be safe to broadcast live the opposition’s rally, when the government
has determined against the opposition programme alleging 'it is a plot to
create anarchy'.
The private TV channels fears BTRC as the
telecom regulatory body is also licensing authority.
The government spokesperson and minister Syed Ashraful Islam has expressed his indignation over the planned live broadcasting of BNP's rally. Several newspapers also ran reports saying the issue was also discussed in the cabinet meeting.
The government spokesperson and minister Syed Ashraful Islam has expressed his indignation over the planned live broadcasting of BNP's rally. Several newspapers also ran reports saying the issue was also discussed in the cabinet meeting.
Bangladesh has 19 private TV channels, which broadcast through satellite and
does not have permission for terrestrial broadcast facilities.
Saleem Samad, an Ashoka Fellow, is Bangladesh
based award winning investigative reporter. He specializes on Islamic militancy,
forced migration, good governance, press freedom and elective democracy. He was
detained and tortured in 2002 and later expelled from Bangladesh in 2004 for whistle-blowing on the
safe sanctuary offered to the Jihadists who fled during Anglo-US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Ending his life in exile in Canada
he has recently returned home after six years. He could be reached at
saleemsamad@hotmail.com
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