Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said foreign drama serials will require approval from the censor board in future before they are aired on private television channels in Bangladesh.
He revealed the decision at the view-exchange meeting on bringing television cable network under digital platform at the conference room of the Information Ministry on Thursday (Oct 17).
The minister said, “Several TV channels are airing dubbed foreign serials. Foreign serials shouldn’t be aired bypassing the censor board as every film needs to go through the censor board scrutiny,” the minister said.
“Those who are airing [foreign serials] have applied for permission. We’re allowing them to air the serials as they have secured some viewers. But in future all the serials have to pass censor board scrutiny. A committee is being constituted for that,” he added.
Hasan Mahmud said foreign DTH (direct-to-home) service is being used in many parts of the country illegally and announced that a clampdown will be launched after December 15 against the service.
“All illegal DTH connections have to be removed by December 15. We’ll launch a drive after the deadline. Action will be taken against those found to be using illegal DTH connections during the drive,” he added.
The minister said violation of the decision is punishable by maximum two years of imprisonment or fine between Tk 50,000 and Tk 100,000. Committing the offence for the second time may invite three-year jail term or fine between Tk 100,000 and Tk 200,000.