ETV Terrestrial Operation
HC stays BTRC action for 3 more weeks
Unb, Dhaka
The High Court yesterday extended its stay order by another three weeks on the BTRC action suspending terrestrial frequency for operation of Ekushey Television (ETV) programme.After hearing both the sides, a division bench comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui passed the order of stay. In a letter issued on April 22, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) took the action as ETV failed to pay the rent arrears amounting to over Tk 30 crore within the stipulated time. On the other hand, the court also granted for hearing government application that seeks modification of its interim order directing BTRC to regularise its VHF frequency to ETV. The private TV channel resumed telecast on March 30, a day after the BTRC, in compliance with the March 7 High Court interim order, regularised its VHF frequency. ETV was the first private-sector television channel with terrestrial facility from the state-owned BTV. It went on air officially on April 14, 2000. But it had been shut down for nearly five years after Supreme Court orders upheld a High Court verdict declaring illegal its licensing process. Barrister Shafique Ahmed with Mozammel Huq appeared for the ETV, while Barrister Aneek R Haque represented BTRC. Attorney General Fida M Kamal stood for government side.
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