More than 24 channels that function under the clean feed instructions can continue to run in the country.
If any letter is required in this regard, it will be sent to the cable operators. If anyone still does not run these, their license will be violated. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud made the remarks after a discussion with representatives of the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) at the Ministry's meeting room at the Secretariat on Monday.
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The minister said that he came to know that all the foreign channels are giving clean feed. He talked about 16 channels yesterday and not just 17 but more than 24 channels provide clean feed in Bangladesh. Hence, there is no obstacle in running them.
He said, “The government has not asked to close any channel. Every country has its own law and so does Bangladesh. The law here states that foreign channels must broadcast without advertisements and it is accepted everywhere in India, Pakistan, Nepal, America, but was not followed in Bangladesh.”
The minister added that the law had been enforced for two years. Meetings have been held with all parties in stages.
“There was a unanimous decision in a meeting more than a month ago and the law will be implemented from October 1. The meeting was attended by Television Owners Association, Broadcast Journalists Forum, cable operators, distributors and others,” he said.
The minister further said that there has been an attempt to spread confusion regarding the ‘clean feed’ instructions and it should be cleared. The government is committed to implementing the law that is in the interest of the people, in the interest of the media industry, in the interest of the artists and journalists.
Earlier, ATCO President Anjan Chowdhury, Vice-President Mozammel Babu and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury thanked the information minister for implementing the policies of clean feed content.
