Bad instance by Ekushey TV owner

April 1, 2009

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/230/bad-instance-by-ekushey-tv-owner

Chairman of Ekushey Television [ETV], Abdus Salam, during a meeting with the Prime Minister on March 29, 2009 suggested 'reviewing' all the broadcast licenses issued during the BNP led Coalition government. It is understood that such suggestions came from the owner of a private television channel with the ultimate intension of canceling licenses of NTV, RTV, Channel-One, Boishakhi TV, Bangla Vision, DESH TV, Diganta TV and CSB TV.

Media people in Bangladesh are greatly surprised at such unexpected demand by the owner of Ekushey TV in canceling broadcast licenses of a number of private television channels, where hundreds of journalists and media related people are employed.

It may be mentioned here that, Ekushey TV managed to obtain a broadcast license for terrestrial television channel during Awami League government in 2000. Owners of this channel also launched a FM band radio station named Radio Metro, which was continuing transmission using equipment and other facilities of Bangladesh Betar. The management of Radio Metro failed to pay the promised charges to Bangladesh Betar, although they continued the broadcast for several years.

Ekushey TV was originally owned by A. S. Mahmood while his hundred per cent share was purchased by Abdus Salam, a Bangladeshi expatriate based in Germany. Their licensing process was challenged in Bangladeshi court. ETV contested the case for years thus finally losing the battle causing in suspension of transmission of Ekushey TV's signals via terrestrial system.

Later after legal battle for years, this channel managed to re-commence its broadcast via satellite. But, in recent past, this channel unlawfully started broadcasting signals through terrestrial system in Chittagong. When the matter was brought into the attention of Bangladeshi authorities and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC], a notice was served on ETV management for illegal transmission of its signals via terrestrial system.

Meanwhile, it is further learnt from Bangladesh Bank sources that, Ekushey Television although pays monthly rental for satellite transponders [generally US$ 35,000 per month], no permission is ever taken from the Central Bank for remittance of such amount on a regular basis. It is understood that, owners of this channel transfer such foreign currency through illegal channels, which falls under Money Laundering Act in Bangladesh.

Moreover, ETV management owes millions of Taka to the package program makers in Bangladesh. Small scale investors put their hard-earned money in making programs thus selling the same to private television channels with the hope of getting some profit. But, instead of making profit, these small investors are forced to serious financial sufferings due to ETV's failure in making payment of the outstanding bills.

It may be mentioned here that during the interim government's rule although broadcast of a number of channels such as Bijoy TV, Falgun Music, Channel-S, STV etc were snatched, some channels started broadcast without any required license. One of such channels is My TV. Several more illegal channels are also preparing to begin broadcast in next several weeks.

Ekushey TV owner Abdus Salam certainly made an immoral approach to the Prime Minister in 'reconsidering' the channels which got license during the past elected government. It is apprehended that, this specific request might have been raised by the ETV owner at the prior signal of some high-ups in the government.

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