JS body for terrestrial facility for other channels
A parliamentary standing committee yesterday said they are in favour of providing terrestrial facility to other television channels although the cabinet decided to preserve the facility only for Bangladesh Television (BTV).
The parliamentary body on information ministry at its meeting asked the Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad to enquire into alleged illegal operations of two companies who are distributing two pay channels in breach of the government rule.
The committee asked the minister to come up with correct information on this issue before its next meeting.
The committee members at the meeting wanted to know from the information minister why terrestrial opportunity would be reserved only for BTV, the lone state-run television channel.
Following the private television channel Etv's request for terrestrial facility the information minister told the meeting that it is not possible as the cabinet decided to preserve terrestrial facility only for BTV.
Two companies -- Nationwide Communications and Total Sports -- are distributing two pay channels illegally causing huge financial loss to the country, Obaidul Quader, chairman of the standing committee, told The Daily Star last night.
"We have asked the information minister to investigate the matter and take actions if the allegation proves to be right," he added.
Cable Operators' Association of Bangladesh (Coab) informed the meeting that the two organisations are allegedly engaged in money laundering.
Quader, former state minister for youth and sports, said they are not against providing terrestrial facility to other television channels but they could not stand in its favour as the cabinet had already decided against it.
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