Bad news for Bangladeshi television channels

While Indian government is taking necessary measures to allow Bangladeshi television channels in their national network, after many years, a number of existing private television channels in Bangladesh may face closure, once the new broadcast law comes into effect. According to this law, any individual holding political posts in any party or a trade unionist will not get the broadcast license of any private television or radio channel. The law also says that the existing private television channels will require taking fresh permission from the government within 90 days of the law law's coming into effect.

The new broadcast law has already become great headache for a number of owners of the private television channels, who might face closure as the law stops politically affiliated individuals from holding ownership over any of the channels. Here is a list of the channels, which would face closure:

Digatnta Television:

This channel is owned by Mir Kashem Ali, who is an influential leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Broadcast license of this channel was given during the BNP-Jamaat Coalition government's period.

National Television [NTV]:

This channel is owned by Musaddek Ali Falu, an influential member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party [ex Member of Parliament] and former political secretary to Khaleda Zia. The entire process of issuing license to NTV was totally irregular as Musaddek Ali Falu purchased 100 percent share of a company named Total Entertainment Network from Sajjad Ali and later on the basis of that purchase document, he applied for broadcast license of NTV. Falu is still a member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Independent Television:

This channel is owned by BEXIMCO Group and Salman F Rahman. It may be mentioned here that, Salman F Rahman is the active member of Bangladesh Awami League, who managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

Desh TV:

This channel is owned by ex MP of Bangladesh Awami League, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who is a member of the executive committee of the party. It may be mentioned here that, Saber Chowdhury managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

MOHONA TV:

This channel is owned by Kamal Ahmed Majumder, who is an influential leader of Bangladesh Awami League and ruling party's lawmaker. Kamal Majumder managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

Bijoy TV:

This channel is owned by Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who is an influential leader of Bangladesh Awami League and ex Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation. Chowdhury managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009. It is rumored that, recently Mohiuddin Chowdhury has sold significant portion of the shares of the Bijoy TV to a leading private television channel.

SHOMOY TV:

This channel is owned by Advocate Kamrul Islam, who is the state minister and an influential leader of Bangladesh Awami League. Advocate Kamrul Islam managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

Channel 9:

This channel is rumored to be owned by Syed Ashraful Islam, who is the general secretary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League and minister for Local Government Rural Development [LGRD]. Syed Ashraf is managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

GTV:

Gazi TV or GTV is owned by one of the ruling party lawmakers, who managed the license after Bangladesh Awami League came to power in 2009.

Ekattur [71 TV]:

This channel is owned by Mozammel Babu, who is a journalist and influential trade unionist. Babu is known in the society as pro-Awami League journalist, who managed to get the broadcast license for launching this television channel, when Awami League came in power in 2009.

The new law stops law defaulters from becoming owners or share holders in any private television channel company. But the law, for the first time, allows foreign investment in Bangladeshi electronic media. According to the law, 26 percent of the total number of shares can be owned by foreign investors in any of the Bangladeshi television channels.

This particular provision of foreign investment has been incorporated in the new law as a number of newly launched private television channels, mostly owned by Awami League leaders or activists, are going to have Indian investors in their ownership, as a large number of Indian entrepreneurs and conglomerates have expressed willingness of buying shares of Bangladeshi television channels. There also is interest from some Hong Kong based investors as well as investors from mainland China for buying of stakes in Bangladeshi media.

The new law will limit the tenure of all existing broadcast licenses to five and ten years respectively for FM radio and satellite based television channels. On expire of this limit, each of the FM radio stations as well as television channels will require to apply for "re-consideration and extension" of the broadcast license.

This provision has been harshly criticized by the owners of the television channels as well as media experts, who believe, this particular provision in the law will give opportunity to the government in "blackmailing" the owners as well suffocating the freedom of expression.

Seeking anonymity, a source inside Ministry of Information told Weekly Blitz that the government is willing to put a "rope on the neck" of the private television channels and FM radio stations, as in recent years, media in Bangladesh has become "extremely vibrant and critical of the government and the ruling party". The source said, once the new law comes into effect, within 90 days, broadcast licenses of all the existing private television channels and FM radio stations will become null and void. All these channels and radio station will require applying afresh for broadcast license inconformity with the provisions of law. The source indicated that, broadcast licenses of Diganta Television and NTV in particular may not be extended, while there is "serious reservation" within the ruling party about some of the private television channels, initiated by party insiders.

The source also confirmed that the government will not grant any permission to private television channels to use terrestrial facilities for broadcast. It was earlier rumored that Ekushey Television [ETV] may get terrestrial broadcast permission. Commenting on ETV's terrestrial broadcast issue, the ministry source said, "no one will get terrestrial permission again in this country. Particularly, ETV was using infrastructure of Bangladesh Television for its terrestrial broadcast. The ruling party won't commit the same mistake as it did in 1997 by issuing terrestrial broadcast license to ETV."

"Don't think about terrestrial license. Just see, if Ekushey Television will be able to get extension, when its license will become null and void in 90 days of enforcement of the new law", the source added.

It is learnt from sources that the new law may come into force within next couple of months, though this new law has already drawn severe criticism from the media circle in Bangladesh. Even some influential figures in the ruling party are opposing to this law, saying, it will be another 'Black Law' as Special Powers Act, created by Bangladesh Awami League. It is further learnt that, law minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed is giving constant legal suggestions to the Information Minister, who is showing interest in formation of the new law, as a 'preventive' measure of 'media terror and media bias of the private television channels'. One of the well-known pro-Awami League female barristers has drafted the law.

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Bad news for Bangladeshi television channels

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