BANGLADESH

Media’s role is crucial in building knowledge-based society: Hasan Mahmud

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the role of mass media is crucial in building a society based on knowledge and justice.

The minister came up with the remarks at BSRF Dialogue held at the secretariat. Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum arranged the dialogue.

Principal Information Officer Md Shahenur Mia addressed the programme with BSRF president Tapan Biswas in the chair. BSRF general secretary Masudul Haque conducted it.

About the cable operating system, Hasan said once the cable operators themselves selected the serial of television channels. “We have finalised the serial of TV channels after discussing the matter with all the stakeholders.

The minister said that several meetings were held with all stakeholders to implement the ad-free (clean feed) foreign TV channels broadcasting over the last two years. And a unanimous decision was taken at a meeting held in August that the act will be implemented from October 1, he added.

He said it is the first responsibility of those foreign TV channels in terms of sending clean feed who want to broadcast their channels in Bangladesh.

“They send the clean feed to other countries. But, they (concerned foreign TV channels authorities) don’t send the clean feed to our country. From now on,
they are taking steps. The broadcasting will begin if they would send a clean feed. All concerned including journalists, artists, and scriptwriters will enjoy the benefit,” he added.

He said there are about three to four crore TV customers across the country and the cable operators collect Taka 350 to Taka 400 in urban areas while Taka 150 to Taka 300 from other areas of the country.

“But the government doesn’t get any vat or tax from the income,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

He said, “We will stop the loopholes. The cable operating system will be digitalized from November 1. It will not be possible to dodge after digitalization of the system.”

 

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