8/3/2019 Despite Repeated Blank Promises by Indian Authorities

1/4

Despite repeated blank promises by Indian authorities, including the Indian Prime Minister Dr.

Manmohan Singh, government of India has no intension in real of allowing Bangladeshi television

channels to enter the national cable network in that country. Two weeks back, when the issue of

allowing Bangladeshi TV channels into Indian cable network was raised in the Parliamentary

Committee, the proposal was outright rejected as most of the members of the Parliamentary

Committee opined that, "Bangladeshi TV channels contain anti-India content and it also containsprovocative materials, which would disrupt the internal security of India".

Minister in charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcast, Ambika Soni vehemently opposed the

proposal of allowing Bangladeshi television channels within Indian cable network saying, "Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh and a large number of policymakers from Indian National Congress are

against the idea of allowing Bangladeshi television channels within Indian cable network."

When the Indian minister for Information and Broadcasts Ambika Soni was reminded that, Dr.Manmohan Singh made personal commitment of allowing of allowing Bangladeshi TV channels in

India as well Bangladeshi foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni told reporters after her Indian trip that

authorities in New Delhi have specifically committed to allow Bangladeshi television channels in

India, the minister said, "no such commitment was ever made."

It may be mentioned here that, during the recent past Bangladesh tour of Indian Prime Minister Dr.

Manmohan Singh, it was repeatedly said that Bangladeshi private television channels will be allowed

within Indian cable network "soon". But, similar as most of blank promises made by India, this

commitment of allowing Bangladeshi TV channels have also become visibly false.

Bangladesh allows most of the Indian television channels including some of regional channels within

cable network in the country. Indian pay channels earn millions of dollars every month from

Bangladesh and some of the Indian TV channels are even selling "time chunk" to Bangladeshi

program producers on a regular basis. Recently Zee TV has also started selling Bangla Program Chunk

to local program makers.

Commenting on government's failure in even getting Bangladeshi TV channels allowed in India, a

source within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking anonymity told Weekly Blitz, "Dr. Dipu Moni is

not working to protect interest of Bangladesh. Her behavior and activities are like a petty Indian

deputy minister if not a second ranking officer of the Indian foreign ministry.

8/3/2019 Despite Repeated Blank Promises by Indian Authorities

2/4

"The current government has already allowed import of Indian films, which is a clear attempt of

killing the Bangladeshi film industry. It is trying to do anything to ultimately transform Bangladesh

into a mere province of India.

"Owners of Bangladeshi TV channels as well as program producers, directors and actors need toraise strong voice on the issue of allowing Bangladeshi TV channels in India, or they should force the

government is shutting down all the Indian channels from Bangladeshi cable network."

The foreign ministry source said, "Because of bankrupt diplomacy of Dr. Dipu Moni, we have already

given almost everything to India, as per their desire, while in return, we got nothing."

It may be mentioned here that, Bangladeshi drama, Bangladeshi folk music etc have huge public

demand amongst Bangla speaking population in India. It is anticipated that the owners of Bangla TVchannels in India as well as program producers and actors are continuing to oppose allowing

Bangladeshi TV channels within their cable network. Some of the popular Bangladeshi television

channels are: Channel i, ATN Bangla, NTV, EKushey TV, Diganta TV, Desh TV, RTV, Bangla Vision,

Boishakhi TV, ATN News, Somoy TV, Mohona TV, Bijoy TV and Channel 9 while a large number of

television channels such as Ekattur, GTV, SATV etc are expected to commence broadcast soon.

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2024/indian-minister-opposes-allowing-bangladeshi-tv

Bangladeshi commerce minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan was at the forefront of recent enthusiasm of the

ruling government in allowing import of Indian films for projecting in various cinema halls in the

country. The order was duly passed by the government and a number of local film distributorsquickly opened letter of credit for importing Indian movies. Finally, the matter was put of pause,

when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave verbal instructions during cabinet meeting to stop the

import of Indian films, after she realized that, this decision was greatly condemned by the people of

the country as well as members of Bangladeshi cinema industry. Though the process is on pause, the

government has not yet cancelled the order of importing Indian films, as the Prime Minister is yet to

give any written instruction in this regard.

Right after the decision of the Commerce Minister is allowing import of Indian films, film producers,

directors, actors and technicians of Bangladeshi film industry came on street condemning such

ridiculous decision. They said this decision of allowing Indian movies to be shown in Bangladesh will

only destroy the entire cine industry in the country.

Reviewing an import policy, the government allowed import of films from India and other South

Asian countries. Industry people say Bangladesh's already-ailing film industry, popularly dubbed as

Dhallywood, will be devastated if the decision comes into effect.

8/3/2019 Despite Repeated Blank Promises by Indian Authorities

3/4

It may be mentioned here that, importing Indian films is banned in Bangladesh since the

independence of the country under the directive of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Chalachchitra Oikya Parishad, a platform of the local film industry, organised the protest

on the premises of the Film Development Corporation [FDC].

They said the government had taken this decision without consulting the industry insiders. Hundreds

of Bangladeshi film producers, directors, actors and actresses Monday came down to the premises

of the Film Development Corporation in Dhaka, held demonstrations and vowed to resist exhibition

of Indian movies across the country. The Bangladesh Chalachitra Oikya Parisad, a combine of film

related organisations, staged the demonstration protesting the government's decision to lift ban on

import of Indian films. Eleven-film related organisations including Bangladesh Film Producers and

Distributors Association, Bangladesh Film Directors' Association, Film Artistes Association,

Bangladesh Film Editors' Guild, Bangladesh Cinematographers' Association, Bangladesh Film Dancers

Association, Cine-Directorial Associates of Bangladesh participated in the demonstration under the

newly formed Chalachitra Oikya Parisad.

Terming the move a conspiracy, Chalachitra Oikya Parisad convenor Mizu Ahmed said, "This decision

will create an unequal competition in Bangladesh's film industry as the budget of Indian films is

much bigger than that of us".

"The cinema owners are behind the conspiracy and they have provided the government with wrong

information that the number of films released annually from the FDC is too small", said Mizu Ahmed

who also is the president of Film Artistes Association.

Film director Chashi Nazrul Islam said lifting of ban on import of Indian films will be suicidal for the

Bengali culture.

Film director Uttam Akash blasted government's decision in allowing Indian films to be shown on

Bangladeshi cinema halls. He said, this decision will not only destroy the future of our film industry

but will also place huge number of cine producers, who already have invested millions of Taka in

films into total risk.

8/3/2019 Despite Repeated Blank Promises by Indian Authorities

4/4

While Bangladeshi commerce minister was enthusiastic in lifting the ban on importing Indian

movies, Indian government is reluctant in removing the ban on allowing Bangladeshi television

channels to be shown in their country. According Indian government's policy, only TV channels of

enemy nations are barred to be shown in their country.

On the other hand, though India is continuing ban on Bangladeshi TV channels, huge number of

Indian channels are regularly shown through cable networks in Bangladesh and a number of Indian

pay channels are earning a few hundred million dollars every month as subscription fee for showing

these channels in Bangladesh.

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/743/indian-movies-and-bangladeshi-tv-channels