Bangladesh: No bar on foreign channels providing ad-free content

Bangladesh is determined to implement the clean feed policy for foreign channels to which cable operators and others had agreed two years ago. The Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Hasan Mahmud has said that the government  has not blocked any channels and its skies are open for any foreign channel that respects its laws concerning clean feed. He pointed out that foreign channels provide clean feed to countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. the Minister said that about 24 foreign channels provide clean feed in Bangladesh and there is no bar to air those channels.

He accused that confusion is being created about the government decision to allow only ad-free content from foreign channels in the country. Dr.Mahmud said that It is firstly the responsibility of those channels to provide clean feed to Bangladesh and then of those who have taken license to downlink the channels in the country. The cable operators were granted license to downlink foreign channels subject to the condition of providing the clean feed, said the Minister. 
The Cable operators of Bangladesh have stopped carrying foreign channels including the popular news and entertainment channels from India including Doordarshan which provides clean feed to Bangladesh, since October 1 when the government decided to enforce the law regarding clean feed from foreign channels.