Govt wants to keep ETV off the screen: Abdus Salam

০৬ ই জানুয়ারি, ২০১৫ বিকাল ৪:১০

By Zahid Al Amin :
When new private satellite TV channels marked a mushroom growth during the last few years with the blessings of the present government, the BNP-Jamaat Coalition regime did not pay heed to even the court order that allowed legal resumption of ETVs terrestrial operation.
Unwanted complications, including withholding the permission for its frequency, have been created so that ETV could not go into operation again.
"Ekush (21) is my ideological fight. I have been fighting for reopening Ekushey Television (ETV) in line with the spirit of the Mahan Ekushey February," said Abdus Salam, Chairman of the suspended Ekushey Television, adding that the ETV is the trailblazer in the Sub-continent.
In an interview with The Bangladesh Observer recently, Abdus Salam accused the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) of wasting time for "'reason unknown", ignoring the judgement of the court. Salam said that the present government was issuing, licence to the private TV channels owned by Ministers and MPs but it kept the issue of giving licence to the most popular ETV hanging.
He said that the BNP-Jamaat coalition government had stopped the airing of the ETV soon after it came to power on the excuse that the process of issuing licence to ETV was "not proper". Not only that it also started harassing the owners of the ETV in different ways, including filing of false cases against them and engaging various agencies to create pressure on the family members of the ETV-owners and their close relatives.
Is the government afraid of ETV's popularity? Otherwise why they aren't giving the permission for its frequency even after the verdict of the court? Salam asked.
Referring to the facilities given to private channels Abdus Salam said a new TV channel named Stv has taken the permission of using SNG. This was done reportedly without the knowledge of the Prime Minister, he added.
ETV Chairman believes that private TV channels have a tremendous role to play during the forthcoming general elections in the country. But the objectives of ensuring free and fair elections would be frustrated if only the TV channels, owned by Ministers and MPs, were given a free ride.
With a view to influencing the forthcoming parliamentary polls, the government is giving license to its own people defying the existing rules and regulations. These channels have been given permission only for political manipulation", he commented.
The office and entire setup of the ETV is still remaining at Jahangir Tower, Karwanbazar. The sophisticated studio, well decorated transmission setup and modern digital graphics instruments have been kept ready for resuming its terrestrial operation. Everything is okay, but only the artistes and related manpower are to be regrouped, he pointed out.
Asked about the reasons for still keeping all the setup of the channel despite so much of government's barriers, he said that we are still expecting that a sense of realisation would prevail on the ruling government as our viewers are still hoping that ETV would resume operation soon.
ETV Chairman said that with a view to misguiding the mass people, the present government is giving permission of the private TV channels one after another. Even, the new channels have been allowed to enjoy manifold illegal facilities. including import of equipment and accessories without paying VAT.
He said that it is not commercially feasible to operate a total of 12 TV channels as the current advertising market in Bangladesh is not that big. What is the meaning of issuing so many licences? Some people have become the owners of these TV channels only to convert their black money into white, he alleged.
About the airing of Ekushey TV, Abdus Salam said that he would go to court for justice as early as possible. He alleged that a total of 27 false cases have been filed against him. He hopes that some day the government would have to explain about the immeasurable loss caused to ETV by them.
There is no example in the world that people staged demonstrated for any TV channel but it was done in Bangladesh for ETV. People of Bangladesh cried for their beloved ETV, he moaned.
"I never tried to make business with ETV. If I can contribute something through Ekushey Television, my unfinished task will be fulfilled, Abdus Salarn said.
The Bangladesh Observer, Published date: May 23, 2006

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*** ২৩ মে, ২০০৬। ইটিভি চেয়ারম্যান আব্দুস সালামের এই সাক্ষাৎকারটি অধুনালুপ্ত দি বাংলাদেশ অবজারভার-এর জন্য গ্রহন করেছিলাম। বর্তমান সরকারের তথ্য উপদেস্টা এবং সেই ইংরেজি দৈনিকটির সম্পাদক বেশ ভালো ট্রিটমেন্ট দিয়েই সাক্ষাৎকারটি তার সম্পাদিত পত্রিকায় প্রকাশ করেছিলেন। ভাগ্যের কি নির্মম পরিহাস, আজ স্বার্থের দ্বন্দ্বে দু'জন দু'পথে। একজনের অঙ্গুলি নির্দেশে অন্যজন বন্দি।
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