Supreme Court Stays BTRC’s Decision: No Bar on Channel One’s Broadcast
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) decision to shut down the private television channel Channel One, allowing the broadcaster to resume operations without legal hindrance, according to lawyers.
The order was issued on Monday (February 24) by a bench led by Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam. Senior lawyer Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented Channel One during the hearing. Previously, on January 23, after 16 years, Channel One was granted permission to file an appeal by the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division.
The legal team for Channel One included senior lawyers Ruhul Quddus Kajal, Palash Chandra Roy, Kazi Akhter Hossain, Mohammad Masum Billah, Barrister Maruf Ibrahim Akash, and Mohammad Masum Billah.
Channel One was taken off-air 16 years ago when, on April 27, 2010, shortly after 6 PM, the then-government revoked its broadcasting frequency. Allegations suggest that political motives and personal vendettas led Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to pressure BTRC into halting the popular news channel’s transmission.
In response, Channel One filed a case with the High Court, but the petition was dismissed, reportedly under direct influence from the then-government.
Mizan-ul-Haq, the channel’s legal officer, stated that after the public uprising in July, known as the Juli Uprising, the channel revisited the legal process, leading to the Chamber Judge granting permission for an appeal.
Expressing his satisfaction over the court’s latest ruling, Channel One’s Managing Director, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, remarked, “The channel was shut down unjustly. Today, the court has delivered fair justice.”
Channel One first launched on January 24, 2006, under the slogan “Priyo Darshok, Shombhabonar Kotha Bole” (Dear Viewers, Speaking of Possibilities). The satellite television channel quickly gained popularity both in Bangladesh and among the diaspora abroad. However, on April 27, 2010, at 6:41 PM, BTRC officials entered the channel’s Gulshan office and ordered an immediate shutdown, leaving 400 journalists, staff, and technical personnel unemployed.
The official reason cited for the closure, as stated by then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, was that Channel One had violated telecommunication laws by mortgaging its broadcasting equipment to a bank, which was later auctioned off.
However, employees and management of Channel One claimed that the shutdown was politically motivated, aimed at silencing dissent. They alleged that the channel had been under significant pressure from high-level government officials regarding its news reporting and talk shows before its closure.
