All illegal DTH services must go by Dec 15

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said that local or foreign illegal direct-to-home (DTH) downlink services must be stopped by December 15.

Hasan Mahmud came up with the announcement during a meeting at the Secretariat on digitalisation of cable television channels in Bangladesh.

“Only two companies have been given DTH licences but the government has not given any approval for using foreign DTH technology,” the minister said.

He went on saying, “Foreign DTH services are being used in many areas, which is completely illegal. All the illegal DTH connections must be removed by December 15. If not, we’ll take action.”

The minister said one will have to serve a prison term of at least two years if he or she is found guilty, and pay a maximum fine of Tk 1 lakh. The minimum fine is Tk 50,000.

If the offence is committed for the second time, the penalty will be three years’ rigorous imprisonment, and at least Tk 1 lakh to Tk 2 lakh fine.

He said it is not prudent to telecast uncensored foreign serials since a movie must go through the censor board after it has been produced.

Channels that are showing dubbed foreign serials have applied for approval and a committee will be formed to ensure that such serials are cleared by the censor board.

During the meeting, the minister said additional tax must be paid if a foreign artiste is cast in any local advertisement. Rules on making advertisements with foreign artistes will be introduced soon, he added.