The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to take necessary action to stop advertisements for Bangladeshi viewers on foreign television channels, currently being run in Bangladesh. Senior assistant secretary to the information ministry, senior commerce secretary, chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR), governor of Bangladesh Bank, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), director general of Bangladesh Television (BTV) and inspector general of police (IGP) have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan seeking the court’s order on the respondents in this regard.

In his public interest litigation (PIL), Advocate Bhuiyan said that broadcasting advertisements for Bangladeshi viewers on foreign TV channels being aired in the country is prohibited under the Cable TV Network Operation Act 2006.

However, some companies are airing advertisements on foreign TV channels illegally which is hurting the domestic industry as well as denying the country of revenue, said Bhuiyan.

Under the Cable TV Network Operation Act 2006, the highest punishment for airing advertisement on foreign channels in the country is two years' imprisonment or Tk 1 lakh fine.