Hasan for obeying law in airing programmes on foreign TV channels

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud urged on Wednesday the country's cable operators to follow the conditions of the licence as well as the existing law of the country for broadcasting foreign and local television channels, reports BSS.

"The government would give a time-frame to stop broadcasting advertisement and other programmes in foreign TV channels . . . After the time-limit, necessary steps would be taken if any operators violate the law, he said.

The minister came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) at his secretariat office in the city.

Dr Hasan said, "The cable operators have an important role in reaching the private channels at the root level . . . But they should abide by the existing law."

He said as per the law there is no scope of airing advertisements in foreign channels and the cable operators could play a vital role in stopping advertisements.

He also urged the COAB leaders to follow the list of private television channels as per the serial of licences. "The cable operators must follow the list for airing TV channels," he added.

Dr Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of the ruling Awami League, said there are around 6,000 cable operators in the country and they have vital role in airing both local and foreign channels.