The High Court is set to hear a writ petition on Wednesday (December 4), seeking an order to halt the broadcast of Indian television channels operating in Bangladesh without adhering to the payment requirements mandated by government regulations.
A bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi issued the order on Tuesday (December 3).
Advocate Eklash Uddin Bhuiyan, representing the writ petitioner, urged the court for an urgent hearing, citing the matter's immediacy.
The writ, filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eklash Uddin Bhuiyan on behalf of Advocate Syeda Shaheen Ara Laili, lists the Secretary of the Ministry of Information, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the Director General of Bangladesh Television, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as respondents.
The petition is rooted in alleged violations of the Cable Television Network Management Act, 2006. Sections 19 and 20 of the Act outline restrictions on broadcasts that threaten national integrity, social values, or public interest.
Key allegations in the writ
The petition argues that:
Indian TV channels air programmes that violate Bangladesh’s culture, traditions, and values.
Certain content promotes unrest, disrupts families, and negatively influences youth through provocative and culturally insensitive programming.
Indian channels are allegedly airing content specifically targeted at Bangladeshi viewers without obtaining the required government permissions, breaching Section 19(14) of the Act.
Legal context
Section 19 of the Act outlines prohibited content for cable TV networks, including:
Material harmful to the nation's sovereignty, unity, or public security.
Content promoting obscenity, indecent gestures, or violence.
Programmes targeting Bangladeshi viewers via foreign channels without government approval.
Section 20 empowers the government to ban any cable network’s operations, in whole or in part, to protect public interest.
Petitioner's arguments
Advocate Bhuiyan highlighted the pervasive impact of Indian programmes on Bangladeshi society, claiming:
They contribute to family disputes, including divorce, influenced by content in Indian serials.
The channels fail to comply with legal obligations, including financial payments to the government.
He argued, "The unchecked airing of such programmes violates several provisions of the law, warranting an immediate ban to safeguard the public and cultural values of Bangladesh."
The court's decision on the matter is eagerly awaited, given its potential implications for media regulations and bilateral cultural exchanges.