Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has declared that Bangladesh Television (BTV) Chittagong centre will be the second independent national television channel of the country.
“This centre will air programs for 12 hours every day from December this year,” he said, inaugurating the nine hour independent transmission of BTV Chittagong on its premises on Saturday, reports BSS.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor, AJM Nasir Uddin, was special guest. BTV Director General, Harunur Rashid, delivered the welcome speech.
Information Secretary Abdul Malek, MPs in the region, high government officials, politicians, freedom fighters, leaders of professional bodies, artistes and others, attended the function.
Nine hours of programming will air on Sunday (April14), the first day of Bangali New Year.
Hasan said: “The present government led by Bangabandhu’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina, has undertaken a plan to set up BTV centres in six divisional headquarters with foreign financial assistance.”
The Information Ministry has been able to go to airing nine hour programs from six hours, in only three months.
“The 12-hour transmission will simultaneously go on both cable and terrestrial systems in the days to come, like BTV and BTV world,” the information minister added.
He asked all concerned, including artistes, technicians, producers, and programmers, to contribute more to enhancing the quality of programmes.
Referring to the picturesque beauty of BTV Chittagong centre, the minister announced that his ministry is mulling over setting up a Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) branch on its premises to turn it into a short film shooting spot.
He further said the expansion of transmission is needed, considering the importance of history, culture, heritage, tourism, sports, trade, commerce, and education in Chittagong.
Mega projects for Chittagong, ongoing
Hasad added: “Huge mega projects worth about Tk1 lakh crore, are being executed for the overall development of Chittagong.
“Nearly 100 special economic zones are being developed in the country, including Bangabandhu Industrial City on 30 thousand acres of land in Mirsharai, Sitakunda, and Feni.”
Referring to the expansion of mass media under Sheikh Hasina’s government, he said: “The growth of mass media sometimes thwarts true and responsible journalism for unhealthy competition with quick dissemination of news.
“We are almost in the final stage of the formation of a national broadcast policy with a view to bringing the media under a precise guideline.”
Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin in his speech, called for highlighting various immensely promising sectors, including trade and commerce, tourism, culture and sports, through various programmes from this TV centre.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina declared turning Chittagong (BTV) into a 12-hour independent transmission centre with its modernization after Awami League came to power in 2008.
As per the election pledge, the centre started experimental airing for four hours daily on a satellite link from September 28, and six hours daily from December 31, 2016.
The prime minister inaugurated the six-hour programs by video conference on December 31 in 2016.