Television of a Lifetime Faridur Reza Sagor

TSC Building

Khairul Alam Sabuj

Continued from Vol 01 Issue 13
Not only BTV but is there any accountability of all the satellite TV channels? Yet, it is so easier to produce a programme. Let's start with musical programmes; nowadays a producer has to take two matters into account. The artiste will say “tell me the time, I will send you the date. I will lip-sync on the day of recording”. If the producer says that there will be a new song, then the reply will be “when and where is the audio”?
I have doubts about BTV's audio recording system. If there were any desire to take high quality audio, there would've been equipment's to support such demands at the audio recording studios in Rampura, but there is none. There is a small recording room at studio two at Rampura TV station which is supposed to be used as a VIP studio. That is why we saw singers were recording on the large auditorium of BTV. On that same auditorium, as the crowd-favourite magazine show 'Jodi kichu mone na koren'. Before that, only a handful of programs used to run with studio-audience at studio three. Among them: 'Gyan Jiggasha' and' Jatiyo Bitorko Protijogit' were audience favourites. Belal Beg must be mentioned regarding the programmes – he is the one who came up with ideas of such shows. Initially, when the idea was on the table, everyone thought it would be too hard to execute such an idea. For many, gathering students from all schools of Dhaka and to have a recurring show was impossible. Now, debate programmes don't bring students from Dhaka but from all over Bangladesh. It proved how a TV programme can cause huge impact on academic life. Debate itself became popular amongst the students all over the country due to the debate show.

Bulbul Ahmed

There was always interest among many producers to have general knowledge quiz programmes. 'Bolun Dekhi' went on air in 1966. The participants were students of different dorms of Dhaka University and many colleges. The programme was often hosted by Prof Abdul Matin or Dr. Enamul Haque. Although he hosted many programmes, 'Dekha Hoi Nai Chokhkhu Melia' gave Dr. Enamul Haque immense popularity.
Contest of one of the final rounds of 'Bolun Dekhi' was between the students of Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University (DU) and Dhaka Medical College (DMC). Today's famous actor Abdul Kader was amongst the participants of Mohsin Hall team. On the other side, famous neurologist Dr. Afzal Hossain was representing the DMC team. Kazi Kayum was the director of the programme, since both teams were from Dhaka University (DMC is under DU), the director planned that the programme should be held at TSC (Teachers Students Centre) in DU. A proposal was sent to the director of TSC. It was a very differnet proposal from anything he ever received. At TSC, there was a Janata Bank branch, the manager of the branch is today's famous actor Bulbul Ahmed. He had done few dramas for BTV by then; his assistance was also asked. It was a huge honour to have a television programme to be shot live at TSC. Permission letters were collected from the Vice Chancellor's office and ministry. It didn't end there; a meeting was arranged with DACSU (Dhaka University Student Union) leaders Khairul Alam Sabuj; now an actor then a leader of DACSU. He came forward to assure that there will be no trouble since it is a competitive programme held at TSC (doorstep of DU), win for DMC could have created havoc. Chief engineer of BTV came to check the camera positions. Many engineers were on duty at TSC so that the flow of such competitive programme would not be hampered. Many TV officials sat amongst the audience to check on any possible trouble. With outdoor audience, it was the biggest TV programme of that time. It must be mentioned with delight that the hearty support from DU students later enabled many other programmes to be recorded there.
To be continued…
The writer is Managing Director, Channel i
Translated by Zia Nazmul Islam