The High Court today cleared the way for government-permitted cable channel distributors to continue broadcasting foreign television channels in the country.

The court came up with the order after rejecting a writ petition seeking directives upon the government to stop broadcasting three Indian TV channels -- Star Jalsa, Star Plus and Zee Bangla -- in Bangladesh.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman rejected the petition saying that it was not moved before the court properly.

During today’s hearing, Abdul Matin Khasru, a counsel for the cable channel distributors, said his clients had legal permission for broadcasting the foreign TV channels in Bangladesh.

Later, the court rejected the petition and said it will not interfere with the issue.

On August 7, Supreme Court lawyer Syeda Shahin Ara Laily filed the writ seeking a ban on operation of the three Indian channels, saying that programmes broadcast by channels left adverse impact on social and cultural life of Bangladeshi people.

There is no legal bar for broadcasting the channels in the country following today’s order, writ petitioner's counsel Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan told The Daily Star.

He however said he will move the petition before another bench.