HC rejects writ on telecast of three Indian channels
STAFF REPORTER
The High Court (HC) has rejected a writ petition seeking its order on the government to ban the telecast of three Indian Channels Star Jalsha, Star Plus, and Zee Bangla in Bangladesh.
After a final hearing on the petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan pronounced the verdict yesterday.
Telecast of three Indian channels -- Star Jalsha, Star Plus and Zee Bangla -- will continue in Bangladesh following the High Court order, both the prosecution and defence lawyers said.
However, the defence counsel said that they would appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the High Court order.
Supreme Court lawyer Sayada Shaheen Ara Laily filed the writ petition on August 7, 2014 seeking to stop the airing of the three Indian channels in Bangladesh.
The petitioner mentioned that those channels had been making an undesirable impact on the social life of the countrys people. She referred to various newspaper reports including the Naogaon incident where a student, Atrai, committed suicide after her guardians refused to buy her a Pakhi dress, a dress named after a character of a popular Indian Bangla drama serial broadcast on Star Jalsha.
The petitioner also said the three channels promote obscenity and its programmes help to fuel feud among families.
Education of the students and regular activities of housewives are also being hampered due to watching of the channels programmes, she said in the petition.
On October 19, 2014, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not directed to ask the cable operators to stop airing the three Indian satellite television channels.
The HC held the hearing on the rule for several days. After concluding hearing on the rule, the HC bench on January 25 fixed January 29 for delivering its order on the petition.
