Private TV channels banned from parliament

The Bangladesh authorities have restricted private television channels from covering parliamentary proceedings.

The unexplained restriction came as parliament started its budget session on Tuesday. TV crews of Ekushey Television (ETV), Channel-i and ATN Bangla were denied entry into the house. However, the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) continued covering the session.

Officials said yesterday the speaker in consultation with the prime minister would decide soon if private TV channels would be permitted to cover the proceedings on a regular basis.

"Maybe the private TV channels would be allowed entrance only on special occasions like the day the new budget would be placed," said a parliamentary official seeking anonymity.

Of the three, the ETV, the country's most popular TV channel, had the permission from the information ministry to cover the current session while the other two channels were advised to cover on special occasions only.

Until the last session, the authorities permitted the private TV channels to cover the parliamentary proceedings with occasional restrictions.

Meanwhile, authorities have banned a reporter of a Bangla-language daily, Aajker Kagoj, because of his recent reports on alleged irregularities in the parliament's secretariat.

His latest report was about the speaker's recent trip to Canada, where he led a huge delegation.

The information ministry refused to issue the reporter, Asaduzzaman Shomrat, a press card to cover the current session of the parliament following a suggestion from the office of the speaker, sources said.