Apex court stays BTRC decision, no bar to Channel 1 broadcast
There are no legal barriers to the full-fledged broadcast of Channel 1, said Advocate Mohammad Masum Billah
The Appellate Division has stayed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's (BTRC) decision to shut down Channel 1, a private satellite television channel.
The bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam issued the order today (24 February).
Advocate Mohammad Masum Billah, representing Channel 1, said a regular bench heard the appeal regarding the channel's closure. After the hearing, the appeal was accepted in favour of Channel 1.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"This means there are no legal barriers to the full-fledged broadcast of Channel 1," he said.
The channel had been taken off the air on 27 April 2010, after the Awami League government came to power.
BTRC had revoked the channel's frequency allocation, prompting Channel 1's authorities to seek intervention from the High Court. However, their petition was dismissed at the time.
The government had justified the shutdown by alleging that Channel 1 had sold imported broadcasting equipment without proper authorisation.
