US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1767

UNCLAS DHAKA 001767 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, KISL, BG 
SUBJECT: BDG TO ALLOW RESUMPTION OF ETV TELEVISION CHANNEL 
 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: On April 12, the BDG cleared the Ekushey 
Television (ETV) application for a fresh license to resume 
operation after the Supreme Court ordered its closure two 
years ago.  The BDG also gave clearances for two more TV 
channels owned, respectively, by two ruling party 
legislators.  ETV, which once had U.S. equity, is likely to 
go on the air after the Bangladesh Telecommunication 
Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issues the license and the BDG 
returns the equipment it seized after the closure.  End 
Summary 
 
2. (SBU) On April 12, the BDG issued a "No Objection 
Certificate" to the issuance of a new license to ETV, the 
first private TV channel in Bangladesh.  It began 
terrestrial and satellite broadcasts on March 8, 2000, but 
was shut down after a Supreme Court order on August 29, 
2002, citing irregularities in its licensing process.  ETV 
had ended the BDG monopoly in the electronic media and 
earned popularity among viewers.  ETV officials viewed the 
channel's shutdown as motivated by politics, because ETV was 
viewed as pro-Awami League and modern, and commercial 
rivalry, since a new station owned by a PMO insider was 
getting started. 
 
3. (U) In December 2002, ETV leadership changed following a 
transfer of shares.  A U.S. investment company, Waterford, 
reportedly retains 15 percent of the shares. 
 
4. (SBU) On April 12, ETV chairman Abdus Salam told us that 
he persuaded BDG to give him a license by promising to PM 
Zia's influential son Tarique not to make partisan use of 
the TV channel. 
 
5. (SBU) Information Secretary Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Morshed 
told us he acted on instructions from "multiple 
authorities," apparently meaning the PMO and Tarique's 
office known as "Hawa Bhaban."  Morshed said the ministry 
has also cleared for licensing two more TV channels -- 
Boishakhi, owned by Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza 
Abbas, and National Television, owned by BNP MP Mosaddeq 
Ali, also known as Falu.  A former Political Secretary to 
the PM, Falu already operates the NTV channel.  Morshed said 
about 50 more applications for licenses, mostly from ruling 
BNP leaders, are still pending with his ministry. 
 
THOMAS