Most ministers, state ministers, party lawmakers, senior leaders and activists blasted the state-run television as its prime news poorly covered the BNP rally compared to the ruling alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh gathering the same day.

On Monday, both BNP and Jamaat held separate rallies at Muktangon and north gate of Baitul Mukarram to protest the August 21 grenade attacks on Awami League rally as well as recent criminal activities and anarchy in the country.

BNP leaders claimed the BTV aired audio-video coverage of the Jamaat rally in its prime news bulletins while the BNP public meeting was 'meagrely shown' although it was much bigger.

The BTV authorities apparently sabotaged the BNP as it avoided telecasting the August 21 carnage on Bangabandhu Avenue in its news as a major incident and again dumped the BNP-led government by allowing excessive coverage on the Jamaat rally, they added.

They also criticised the information minister for his negligence in running state-run BTV, Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Some ministers, preferring not to be named, told The Daily Star that the information minister was not available on Monday night and also on August 21 for his comments on the issue.

"He could not be contacted either by landline or mobile phone on both days," said a senior minister.

BNP leaders alleged key posts at the BTV is now fully controlled by pro-Jamaat officials and the head of news section is an anti-liberation element and fought directly against the War of Liberation in 1971.

An influential BNP leader told The Daily Star that Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was informed of the BTV's coverage of the party rally.