Transmission of all television channels under India’s Zee Network was suspended across Bangladesh by Monday (Apr 1) afternoon.
The move is said to be part of a plan to eventually block transmission of all foreign channels, according to people familiar with the matter.
Once implemented, only 30 local channels will be available through cable connection, multiple sources told Bangla Tribune.
Although it’s unclear where the decision came from and why, only two days ago Information Minister Hasan Mahmud had told cable operators during a meeting that it’s a punishable offence to air Bangladeshi advertisements through downlink.
“If these laws are followed the country’s income will increase at least Tk 5 billion,” he had said.
Prior to the suspension of Zee Network’s transmission on Monday, cable operators received a letter from the information ministry.
The letter, which doesn’t specifically, order the suspension of any channels’ transmission, instructed to monitor local advertisements in foreign channels.
The ministry asked for a list of foreign channels where Bangladeshi adverts were being aired.
“The ministry didn’t ask for the channels to be blocked. The cable operators have been asked to monitor whether any Bangladeshi advertisements were being aired and inform the ministry within a week,” said Deputy Information Secretary (TV) Abdur Razzaque told Bangla Tribune.
Meanwhile, several cable operator employees claim that in addition to Zee Network, another popular Indian network ‘Star’ will also be blocked.
“Right now it seems like all channels other than the 30 local Bangladeshi channels will be blocked,” said Cable Operator Association of Bangladesh (COAB) President SM Anower Parvez.
“Shutting down the foreign channels mean shutting down our operations because the customers won’t just pay for the local channels,” he said and declined to make any further comments on the future of cable TV.
According to subsection 19 (13) of the Cable Television Network Operations Act 2006, it’s a punishable offence to air advertisements in foreign channels for Bangladeshi audience.
