ETV ETV Launched in April 2000 as the country's first private terrestrial TV channel, Ekushey Television Television (ETV) covered half the country's population and turned out to be the ost popular channel offerin! brisk, hi!hly professional, and path"breakin! pro!raes# pro!raes# The channel sparked a revolution in television $ournalis# The ob$ective, deeply analytical, interpretative and investi!ative investi!ative reports by a bunch of youn! and enthusiastic $ournalists has a serious ipact on society# %eportin! reached an international standard and for the first tie reporters en$oyed en$oyed stardo# ETV iensely encoura!ed &oen to&ards $ournalis as a profession# a&a$ish Ali han, &ho &as involved &ith the ETV ETV,, says, Ekushey &as an or!anised and professional edia, &hich &as accuulated by professional professional,, creative, talented and coitted people# To ensure *uality the authority trained up the behind"the"scene people as &ell as the artistes and perforers of a pro!rae# The ETV productions &ere uni*ue in nature+ children's pro!rae uktokhabor, for instance, &as a ne&s"based sho& in &hich the child perforers &ould handle ne&s &ith social relevance# -ifty percent of the youn! tea &ere fro underprivile!ed failies# To nae other successful ites, entertainent pro!raes Ekusher .upur, /riyotoashu, *ui sho& 1hobdo abdo, 1hofol ara eon Tara, inforative pro!rae Ekatturer Ei .iney, A$ker 1hon!badpotro, Ei 1hoptaher 3is&a, talk sho& Arao 3oltey 4hai, cookery sho& %adhunir %anna!har, and of course a nuber of plays by !ifted directors# Another popular actor, actor, ahfu Ahed says, Ekushey played a vital role in prootin! talented youn! artistes the result of &hich &as so obvious "" any innovative ideas and coitent produced *uality pro!raes pro!ra es and the channel !ained hu!e popularity &ithin a short tie# 5o&ever, ETV &ent off the air on Au!ust 26, 2002 after losin! a le!al battle over its broadcastin! ri!hts# An eotional Abdullah Abu 1ayeed, founder of the 3ish&a 1hahitya endra, &rote a coentary in the daily /rotho Alo on 1epteber 78, 2002+ ETV has been leadin! our seein!ly ailess youth to a healthy and capable citienship throu!h its proisin! and uni*ue pro!rae roster# roster# ETV protected the 3an!ladeshi vie&ers fro the foridable influence of the satellite"culture and steered the !ently to the tasteful bou*uet of 3an!la pro!raes, pro!raes, discardin! the 5indi channels#
Ek us he yTe l e v i s i on( ETV)( Be ng a l i :এক sapr i v at et er r es t r i alchanneli nBangl adesh.I t শ টললভন )i b r o ad ca s t sf r o m Kawr anBaz ar ,Dhak a.Ek us he yTel ev i s i oni st hefi r s tpr i v at et el ev i s i onc hannel i n [ 2 ] t heh i s t or yofBangl ade sh. Offic i a lt r a ns mi s s i o nb eg ano nAp r i l 1 4,2 00 0. Ek us he yc ons i s t ent l yi st he#1r at edc hann el i nBangl a des h;wi t hex c el l e nts ho wsandi t sownba se audi enc e.I n20 11,Ek us he ybe camet hefi r s tBangl a des hi c hannel t obr o ad cas tal l i t sc ont entl i v eonl i ne t ov i e wer sar oundt hegl obe,t hr oughi t soffic i al webs i t easwel l as Vi e we r sWo r l d.Thechannel i spo pu l a r l yac k no wl e dg eda st h ev o i c eo ft h en at i o nan dc on si d er edt h emo s tp op ul a rT Vc han ne li n [ 3 ][ 4] Ban gl a de shdu et oi t sn ewsa ndot h eri n no v at i v epr o gr a ms . Hi st or y Launc hedi nApr i l 2000ast hec ount r y ' sfir s tpr i v at et er r es t r i al TVc hannel ,Ek us he yT el ev i s i on( ETV) c ov er edhal ft hecount r y ' spopul at i onandt ur nedoutt obet hemos tpopul arc hannel offer i ngbr i s k , hi ghl ypr of e ss i onal ,a ndpat hbr ea ki ngpr ogr ammes .[5] Thec hannel s par k edar ev ol ut i oni nt el ev i s i onj our nal i s m.Theobj ec t i v e,deepl yanal y t i c al , i nt er pr et at i v eandi nv es t i gat i v er epor t sbyabunc hofy oungandent hus i as t i cj our nal i s t shasas er i ous i mpac tons oc i e t y . Repor t i ngr eac heda ni nt er nat i on al s t andar da ndf ort hefi r s tt i mer e por t er senj o y eds t ar dom.ETV i mme ns e l ye n c ou r a ge dwo me nt o wa r d sj o ur n al i s ma sapr o f e s s i o n. Th eETVp r o du ct i o nswe r eu ni q uei nn at u r e :c h i l d r e n' spr o gr a mmeMu kt o k ha bo r ,f o ri n s t an c e,wa sa ne ws bas edsho wi nwh i c ht hechi l dper f or mer swoul dhan dl ene wswi t hso ci al r e l e v anc e.Fi f t y per c entoft hey o un gt ea m wer ef r o m under pr i v i l eg edf ami l i e s. ETVpl a yedav i t al r ol ei npr omot i ngt al ent edy oungar t i s t est her es ul tofwhi c hwass oob vi ous — ma n yi n no v a t i v ei d ea sa ndc o mmi t me ntp r o du c e dq ua l i t ypr o gr a mme sa ndt h ec h a nn e lg ai n edh ug e p op ul a r i t ywi t h i nas h or tt i me .ETVwa sa no r g an i s eda ndp r o f e ss i o na lmed i a ,wh i c hwa s ac cumul at edbypr of es si onal ,c r eat i v e,t al ent edandc ommi t t edpeopl e.T oens ur equal i t yt he aut hor i t yt r ai nedupt hebehi ndt hes c enepeopl easwel l ast hear t i s t esandper f or mer sofa pr ogr amme. T ona meot h ers uc c es s f u li t e ms ,e nt e r t a i nme ntpr o gr amme sEk u s he rDu pu r ,Pr i y o t o ma sh u,qu i z s ho w Sh ob doJ ab do ,Sho f o lJ a r aKe mo nT ar a ,i nf o r ma t i v epr o gr a mmeEk a t t u r e rEi Di n ey , Aj k e r Sh on gb ad po t r o ,Ei Sh op t a he rBi s wa ,t a l ks h owAmr a oBo l t e yCh ai ,c o ok e r ys h owRa dh un i r Ran nagha r ,ando fc our s eanumbe rofpl a y sb yg i f t eddi r ec t o r s . ETVha dbeenl ead i ngt henat i on ' ss eemi ngl yai ml es sy ou t ht oahe al t h yandcap ab l eci t i z ens hi p t h r o ug hi t spr o mi s i n ga ndu ni q uep r o gr ammer o s t er .ETVpr o t e ct e dt h eBa ng l a de s hi v i e we r sf r om t h e f or mi dabl ei nfl uenc eoft hes at el l i t ec ul t ur eandst eer edt hem gent l yt ot het as t ef ul bouquetofBangl a p r o gr amme s,d i s c ar d i n gt h eHi n di c ha nn el s . Af t erbe i ngi nope r at i onf ort woy ear s ,o nAugus t29,2002,Managi n gDi r ec t orSi mo nDr i n ga ndt hr ee [ 6 ][ 7 ] ot herex ec ut i v eshadt hei rwor kper mi t sc anc el l edandt hes t at i onwast ak enoff a i r . Ho we v e r , per mi s s i onf ort hes t at i ont oc ont i nuet r ans mi s s i onon cemor ewasgr ant edonAp r i l 1 4,200 5,and t r a n s mi s s i o nwa sr e s ume d,o nDe c e mb er1 ,2 00 6 .
I t soffic i al t r ans mi s s i o ns t ar t edMar c h29 ,2 007and,s t a r t ed24 ho urt r an smi s s i ononJ une1.Pr es en t [ 8] Chai r manofETVi sMr .MohammedSai f ulAl am. T echni cali nf o •
Sat el l i t e:T el s t ar1 0at76. 5degr eeEor bi t al l oc at i on
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Band: CBand
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Fr equency:3787MHz
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Pol ar i z at i on:Hor i z ont al ( H)
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FEC:2 / 3
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SymbolRat e:4. 600MS/ S
Typesofbr oadcast i ngpr ogr ams •
T al ks ho w
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Dr ama
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News
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Ch i l d r e nNe ws
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L i v eCo nc e r t
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Spec i al t al kshowwi t hs pec i al i z edT opi c( Heal t h,Chi l dr enet c . )
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Ed uc at i o na ld oc ume nt a r i e s
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Ch i l d r e ns h ows
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Ex pl or i ngc ul t ur e,l ands capes ,andhi s t or ydr i v ens hows
Busi nesspr ogr ammi ng ETVa l s obr o ad c as t sad ed i c a t e db an df o rb us i n es sn e wse v e r y d ayf r o m1 0a mt o2: 3 0p md ur i n g t het r adi nghour si nt heDh ak aSt oc kEx c ha ngewi t hr eal t i meupdat es ,l i v edi s c us s i o nsandbr eak i ng ne ws ,t h efi r s tc ha nn el i nt hec ount r yt odos o. Thec han ne lhasde v el op edar eput a t i onf o rp r o v i d i ngc ur r en ts t oc kmar k e tne wsandi nc i s i v e di s c us s i onsonbus i nes sr el at edi s s uesan di sac l earl eaderi nt heb us i n es sn ewsspa ce,s et t i ng e di t o r i a lan dp r o du ct i o ns t a nd ar d sf o rt h eBa ng l a de s hTVn ewsmar k e t .
Cur r entshows •
Medi aGosi f
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Ph on oL i v eSt u di oCo nc e r t
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Gol poSol poGaan
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Tobu oBadhan
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At oparAmi
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Ekus herRaat
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Ekus herSondha
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Ekus herDupur
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Ekus herSokal
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Ekus herChokh
For mershows •
Al i fL ai l a
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Gul Sanobar
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Bi s hKa t a
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Baundul eExpr ess
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Ek u s he y , Po t h eyPo t h ey
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Ekus heyDupur( News)
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Ph on oL i v eSt u di oCo nc e r t
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Pat herPanchal i ( TVGameShow)
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Sh os h urBa r i Zi n da ba d( Dh al l y wo od r emak e)
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Po pe y et h eSa i l o r
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Su pe r n at u r a l :Th eUn s ee nPo we r so fAn i ma l s
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ZooQues t
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Li f eonEar t h:ANat ur al Hi s t or y
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TheLi f eofMammal s
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TheBl uePl ane t :SeasofLi f e
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WWE
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LooneyTunesandMe r r i eMe l o di e s
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Thi e fo fBa gd ad
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BubunerBaba
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Ha tk a t aRo bi n
Seeal so •
Li s toft el ev i s i ons t at i onsi nBangl ades h
Ref er ences 1.
" L i v eETV" .EkusheyTV.
2.
Rah man ,Ani s( 19 70 01 01 ) ." APol i t i c al Ec onomyoft heEmer g i ngTel e vi s i o nNe wsI ndus t r y i nBa n gl a de s h|An i sRa hma n-Ac a d emi a . e du ".Sf u . a ca de mi a . ed u.Re t r i e v ed2 01 408 0 6.
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" Badi nst ancebyEkusheyTVowner ".Week l yBl i t z .20090401.Ar c hi v edf r omt heor i gi nalon 2 0 0 9 1 2 3 0 .
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Choudhur y ,Sal ahUddi nShoai b( 20100430) ." Sh ut t i ngd ownp r i v a t eTVc ha nn el s ". Weekl y Bl i t z .Ar c hi v edf r om t heor i gi nal o n20 1 00 5 0 5.
5.
Dee pi t a, Nov er a( 20 06) ." Fr om BTVt oETVa ndbe y ond :Th et el e v i s i o nr e v ol u t i o n". Th eDa i l y St ar .
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Hos s ai n,Moa z z em ( 20 02 10 01 ) ." Bangl ades ht el l sTVc hi eft ol eav e".BBCNews. Re t r i e v ed20 14 0 80 6.
7.
LawsonTancr ed,Al ast ai r( 20021002) ." ' Her o' j our nal i s tex pel l edf r om Bangl ades h". The Dai l yTel egr a ph .Re t r i e v ed20 150816.
8.
" ETVg oe so na i ra ga i naf t e ro v e r4y e ar s ".TheDai l ySt ar .2 006 1202.Re t r i e v ed2 014 0 806.
Ext er nall i nk s •
Offic i a lWe bs i t e
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Ek us he yWebTV
Shut i ngDownpr i vat echanel
Current government in Bangladesh shut down another satellite based private television channel last week. Channel-One, a popular television channel commenced its broadcast few years back, when BNPamaat coalition government was in power. !uring that time, a number of broadcast licenses were issued in favor of several influential members of the ruling coalition. Channel-One is one of those "fortunate" ones. #rend of shutting down private television channels began right in $%%% when &wami 'eague was first in power. &t that time, the government shut down country"s first private television channel named &#( )earlier &-*$ #(+ and brought false accusation of "smuggling information via satellite". 'ater, the court of etropolitan ession udge in !haka )Bangladesh+ not only dismissed the case, but made strong remarks criticiing the government for bringing such fabricated case against the promoters of country"s first private television channel. #hough fresh applications were submitted with the subse/uent governments with the copy of the court order seeking fresh permission to re-commence the broadcast of country"s first private television channel, none of the governments ever considered this as the owners of the channel were not members of any of the political houses in the country. #he tendency of slicing down voice of the media continued during the ne0t government, when BNPamaat coalition won the general election in *11$. Broadcast license of 2kushey #elevision, the first private owned terrestrial #( channel was cancelled and later the channel was shut down due to court order. 3uge number of 4ournalists and employees of the channel turned unemployed overnight. 5hen military controlled interim government was in power, broadcast of country"s only new based channel named CBC was snatched as the military controlled regime felt uncomfortable at the prolific reporting in the channel.
Before the general election of *116, current Prime inister heikh 3asina made specific pledge of according total freedom to media. But as soon as it came in power, there has been specific tendency of shutting down television channels owned by political opponents while issuing license to party leaders and affiliates with the aim of establishing monopoly in the electronic media, where no criticism of the government would ever be allowed. 5hile 7 am very much against the very "theme" of shutting down television channels, it is important for me also to mention a gross via lotion of rules by the past BNP-amaat government, while issuing broadcast license to its party affiliates. 2kushey #elevision"s broadcast license was cancelled by the BNP-amaat government at the instigation of some of the so-called "think-tanks" of it. 7t was alleged that, founder of this television channel got the license in his own name, which he later illegally transferred to a company. 7f this was the legal ground to cancel the licence of 2kushey #(, how the same government allowed issuing another license to N#( )a channel owned by the political secretary of the then Prime inister+8 7t may be mentioned here that the political secretary of the then P purchased the ownership of #otal 2ntertainment Netrowk )#2N+ #(, which was owned by a businessman named a44ad &li. #his channel came into broadcast 4ust for couple of months before it was closed down by the owners due to severe financial crisis. 7f the transferring shares of 2kushey #( was seen as illegal by the BNP-amaat government, how the same government issued broadcast license to N#( with the transferred share documents of #2N #(8 ubse/uently, owner of N#( started a second channel named 9#(. 7t is logically argued by many that, if the very birth of N#( was illegal, there is no legitimacy of 9#( and in such case: both the channels should be immediately shut down. ame thing happens in case of BO73&;37 #(, a private television channel, share of which was recently transferred to a "multi-level marketing company" by the o wners of the channel. ost importantly, while Bangladesh #elecommunications 9egulatory Commission sweats to find out irregularities in private television channel, they are ignoring one e0tremely important point. &ll of the private television channels need to pay substantial amount of rental to the satellites for using their transponders for broadcast. &ccording to a recent information of Bangladesh Bank, none of the channels ever applied for permission for such transfer of foreign currency to the satellite operators for years. 7n this case, it is easily anticipated that such huge amount of money is sent to the satellite operators through illegal means, which is an offense under oney 'aundering &ct. ¬her source in National Board of 9evenue said, the private television channels are re/uired to pay $< per cent of the revenue collected from advertisement as (alue &dded #a0 )(&#+. But, NB9 claims that, none of the channels ever paid even fraction of the 4ustified amount of (&# to the National 20che/uer. 7f appropriate investigation will be conducted on this area, it will be revealed that, all of the channels are continuing to evade millions of #aka only from this specific sector. 7 am not mentioning these irregularities to give any provocation to the go vernment in shutting down more television channels in the country. #he reason behind raising these points is to make one clear point that, if the government gets determined in suffocating the voice of any of the private television channels, they can always find ready tools in hand. But, this will not ultimately bring anything good for the very image of the government. 5ith the closure of each of the television channels, hundreds of 4ournalists and employees will turn unemployed. 3opefully, this does not go in favor of the electoral pledge of the current
government, which gave specific commitment to the nation of doing everything in resolving the unemployment issue in the country. But, at least in media sector, the government is, contributing in deepening the unemployment crisis instead of resolving it. 3opefully, Prime inister heikh 3asina will kindly look into this matter, with sympathy and affection for the members of media in Bangladesh.
Bad instance by Ekushey TV owner Chairman of 2kushey #elevision )2#(+, &bdus alam, during a meeting with the Prime inister on arch *%, *11% suggested "reviewing" all the broadcast licenses issued during the BNP led Coalition government. 7t is understood that such suggestions came from the owner of a private television channel with the ultimate intension of canceling licenses of N#(, 9#(, Channel-One, Boishakhi #(, Bangla (ision, !23 #(, !iganta #( and CB #(. edia people in Bangladesh are greatly surprised at such une0pected demand by the owner of 2kushey #( in canceling broadcast licenses of a number of private television channels, where hundreds of 4ournalists and media related people are employed. 7t may be mentioned here that, 2kushey #( managed to obtain a broadcast license for terrestrial television channel during &wami 'eague government in *111. Owners of this channel also launched a = band radio station named 9adio etro, which was continuing transmission using e/uipment and other facilities of Bangladesh Betar. #he management of 9adio etro failed to pay the promised charges to Bangladesh Betar, although they continued the broadcast for several years. 2kushey #( was originally owned by &. . ahmood while his hundred per cent share was purchased by &bdus alam, a Bangladeshi e0patriate based in >ermany. #heir licensing process was challenged in Bangladeshi court. 2#( contested the case for years thus finally losing the battle causing in suspension of transmission of 2kushey #("s signals via terrestrial system. 'ater after legal battle for years, this channel managed to re-commence its broadcast via satellite. But, in recent past, this channel unlawfully started broadcasting signals through terrestrial system in Chittagong. 5hen the matter was brought into the attention of Bangladeshi authorities and Bangladesh #elecommunication 9egulatory Commission )B#9C+, a notice was served on 2#( management for illegal transmission of its signals via terrestrial system. eanwhile, it is further learnt from Bangladesh Bank sources that, 2kushey #elevision although pays monthly rental for satellite transponders )generally ?@ A<,111 per month+, no permission is ever taken from the Central Bank for remittance of such amount on a regular basis. 7t is understood that, owners of this channel transfer such foreign currency through illegal channels, which falls under oney 'aundering &ct in Bangladesh. oreover, 2#( management owes millions of #aka to the package program makers in Bangladesh. mall scale investors put their hard-earned money in making programs thus selling the same to private television channels with the hope of getting some profit. But, instead of making profit, these small investors are forced to serious financial sufferings due to 2#("s failure in making payment of the outstanding bills. 7t may be mentioned here that during the interim government"s rule although broadcast of a number of channels such as Bi4oy #(, =algun usic, Channel-, #( etc were snatched, some channels started
broadcast without any re/uired license. One of such channels is y #(. everal more illegal channels are also preparing to begin broadcast in ne0t several weeks. 2kushey #( owner &bdus alam certainly made an immoral approach to the Prime inister in "reconsidering" the channels which got license during the past elected government. 7t is apprehended that, this specific re/uest might have been raised by the 2#( owner at the prior signal of some high-ups in the government.
Bangladesh tells TV chief to leave A 3ritish $ournalist &ho headed 3an!ladesh's first independent television station is to leave .haka after the !overnent cancelled his visa and &ork perit# 1ion .rin!, ana!in! director of the recently shut" do&n Ekushey Television (ETV) station, has been asked by the !overnent to leave the country iediately#
This window of the media cannot be shut
Simon Dring
9n onday, a case &as filed a!ainst r .rin! and three other e:ecutives of Ekushey Television accusin! the of fraud#
The case &as filed by a fil producer, &ho said he &as not paid for one of his fils &hich &as broadcast by ETV# /olice be!an investi!atin! the alle!ations, but in the eantie r .rin! ade preparations to leave .haka# A spokesperson for ETV told the 334 that r .rin! &ould leave .haka at 2200 local tie (7;00 <T)# Independent sector 5is deportation arks the end of the short"lived history of independent broadcastin! in 3an!ladesh, &hich be!an &ith the launchin! of Ekushey Television in April 2000# =t &as 3an!ladesh's first and only private terrestrial television, &hich !ot a licence under the previous A&ai Lea!ue !overnent# 3ut iediately after the !overnent of /rie inister haleda >ia cae to po&er, ETV faced a difficult tie#
1ion .rin!+ 1aid he &as deterined to return
The validity of its broadcastin! licence &as challen!ed by supporters of the rulin! coalition#
The 1upree 4ourt cancelled the licence in Au!ust this year after len!thy le!al procedures# Ekushey Television &ent off the air the sae day, after the !overnent shut do&n its transission facilities# 'Objective' ETV al&ays said its ne&s and current affairs covera!e &as neutral and ob$ective, but the rulin! 3an!ladesh ationalist /arty believed it &as biased a!ainst the# 9n onday, 1ion .rin! &as !iven a fare&ell reception, at &hich any of 3an!ladesh's leadin! cultural personalities &ere present# r .rin! told the audience that he intended to return to 3an!ladesh a!ain in the future# 5e said this &as the second tie he &as bein! deported fro .haka# =n 76?7, durin! the 3an!ladesh &ar of independence, 1ion .rin! &as deported fro .haka alon! &ith other &estern $ournalists &ho &ere reportin! on the atrocities carried out by the /akistani ary in the then East /akistan# 1ion .rin! said that for any 3an!ladeshis, Ekushey television &as a &indo& onto the outside &orld# 5e said people &ould iss it as they no& had no choice, &ith state"run 3an!ladesh television reainin! the only terrestrial channel#
'Hero' journalist expelled from Bangladesh & former !aily #elegraph correspondent who alerted the world to the massacres of the Bangladeshi war of independence has been e0pelled from the country. imon !ring, <, leaves Bangladesh after the government closed the country"s only independent television station which he set up in !haka two and a half years ago.
#he main opposition &wami 'eague has labelled the closure an outrageous violation of press freedom. imon !ring is a hero to many Bangladeshis, said abher 3ossain Chowdhury, spokesman for the 'eague. 3e was the only foreign 4ournalist who covered the horrors of our war of independence from Pakistan in $%D$, for which he was awarded honorary citienship of Bangladesh. #o us, he has the same status as the BBC"s ark #ully in 7ndia. 7t"s obvious that he is being thrown out because we have a hardline, intolerant government containing two radical 7slamic parties that is determined to control the media. Related Articles
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Musharraf apology to Dhaka
3 1J u l2 0 02
r !ring"s reports for the #elegraph, which revealed massacres in which it is estimated that more than a million people died, included a description of a massacre by Pakistani troops in !haka in arch $%D$. any of his stories had to be smuggled out. 3is reporting outraged officials from what was then 2ast Pakistan and he was e0pelled, returning once Bangladesh won its liberation. 3e later returned to Bangladesh in &pril *111 and established 2kushey #elevision - 2#(. #he channel was renowned for the /uality of its news and entertainment broadcasts, attracting audiences of around D1 million. <hough it easily outperformed state-run Bangladesh #elevision it is now off-air and staff are e0pected to lose their 4obs. inisters said 2#( was bankrolled by the opposition and broadcast biased reports. #hey accused r !ring of being personally opposed to the government and revoked his work permit last month. 3e was given seven days to leave the country. r !ring, who is managing director of 2#(, was due to leave !haka last night, accompanied by an official from the British 3igh Commission because of fears that he may be arrested at the departure gate.
r !ring saidE Obviously 7 cannot say what 7 really feel about my e0pulsion because to do so may endanger criminal proceedings faced by colleagues. But suffice to say 7"m very sorry to be leaving the country. Before too long the disgraceful way in which 7 have been treated will emerge. 7n &ugust, the coalition government ordered 2#( off the air after the upreme Court ruled that it had fraudulently ac/uired its licence to broadcast from the previous &wami 'eague government. #he case against the channel was brought by supporters of the government . Festerday, r !ring was formally charged with fraud, along with senior 2#( e0ecutives. 3e was warned by the authorities that there was a possibility that he and his wife, =iona cPherson, would be arrested at the airport. &ll broadcast media in this country is now controlled by the government. People are being denied access to an independent and free media, said r !ring. #here are terrible things going on here which 7 am not at liberty to disclose because to do so may endanger my colleagues. &ll 7 can say is that 7 have now been e4ected from this country twice. #he circumstances of my second e0pulsion are far more sinister.
ETV goes on air again after over 4 years ransmission of Ekushey Television (ETV) resumed yesterday after its broadcasting was stopped four years and three months ago. The channel can be watched without a satellite connection as before, the ETV authorities claimed at a press conference yesterday. The ETV has got permission to "rebroadcast" its programmes with all previous facilities, said ETV !hairman bdus #alam. The transmission of ETV was stopped on ugust $%, $&&$ following a #upreme !ourt order. #alam said they are hopeful to regain the viewers' attention by presenting uality programme and neutral and investigative news. The ETV got its permission for transmission on pril *, $&&+, but the authorities could not go onair due to some tangles with angladesh Telecommunications -egulatory oard.
inting at a powerful uarter of the immediate past g overnment, #alam said "an evil power" did not allow them to start transmission even after getting the permission. sked about ETV's share owned b y /ias l 0amun, managing director of !hannel and a friend of 12 #enior 3oint #ecretary /eneral Tariue -ahman, #alam said, "4f he had the share, we would not have to wait for one and half years for starting transmission. "/ias l 0amun was one of the most powerful persons in the country during the past government's tenure. 5hy have we waited such a long time if he was with us6" #alam said. 7n former managing director of ETV #imon 8ring's 9oining the channel, he said, "Time will tell that." #alam thanked the media for supporting the ETV in its fight to get permission to resume operation. ETV 8irector (programme) tiul a !howdhury described the day as their "victory day", saying, "5e lost our paradise, but we have regained it."
