13 more channels to join existing 27
The government “two to three days ago” had approved licence for 13 television channels, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu told The Daily Star last night.
He said the approval had been given in line with a past decision and as a routine work.
This comes just a few days after the government gave licences to 14 new FM radio stations that are now awaiting spectrum allocation.
A minister, an adviser to the prime minister and some lawmakers are among the owners and promoters of the new satellite TV channels, said sources in the information ministry.
The country now has 27 private TV stations, of which the Awami League-led grand alliance government has approved 12 during its tenure from 2009.
Of the 13 new channels, ruling party lawmaker Gazi Golam Dastagir is the chairman of “Green TV” of Green Multimedia Ltd. Forests and Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud made recommendation for the channel, sources said.
Former state minister for liberation war affairs AB Tajul Islam recommended approving “Titas TV” of Millennium Media Ltd.
Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, information adviser to the prime minister, is on the list as the managing director of “Dhaka Bangla Television” of Dhaka Bangla Media and Communication Ltd.
Sayem Sobhan, son of Bashundhara Group’s Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, is the managing director of East-West Media Group’s “News 24?.
Mumtaj Begum, a lawmaker from reserved seats for women, has backed “Millennium TV” of Millennium Multimedia Pvt Ltd.
Munshiganj lawmaker Sukumar Ranjan made recommendation for “New Vision TV” of News and Image. Shah Alamgir is on the list as the chief executive officer of the channel.
Another lawmaker Shahriar Alam has been named as the chairman of “Renaissance TV” of Barinda Media Ltd while AL lawmaker Khalid Mahmud has backed Rangdhanu Media’s “Rangdhanu TV”.
The government approved Independent Television, Ekattor TV, Mohona Television, Channel 9, GTV, Somoy TV, Maasranga TV, ATN News, My TV, Bijoy TV, Channel 24, and SATV in 2009 and 2010.
Meanwhile, those who were allowed to set up radio stations include top business groups Pran-RFL, Square and East-West Property Development (Bashundhara) group. A ruling party leader also got a licence, said an official of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of BTRC, said the regulator has received a list of newly approved radio stations on Sunday. The commission will soon discuss spectrum allocation with the radio stations.
He, however, could not say anything about the new TV stations.
-With The Daily Star input