Hasan Mahmud came up with the announcement during a meeting at the Secretariat on digitalisation of cable television channels in Bangladesh.
“Only two companies have been given DTH licenses but the government has not given any approval for using foreign DTH technology,” the minister said.
He went on saying, “Foreign DTH services are being used in many areas which is completely illegal. All the illegal DTH connections must be removed by 15 December. If not, we’ll then take action.”
The minister said one will have serve a prison term, not more than 2 years, if he or she is found guilty, and pay a maximum fine of Tk 1 lakh while minimum Tk. 50,000. If the offence is committed for the second time, the penalty will be three years’ rigorous imprisonment, not more than Tk 2 lakh fine and minimum Tk 1 lakh.
He said it is not prudent to telecast uncensored foreign serials since any movie must go through the censor board after it is produced.
Channels that are showing dubbed foreign serials have applied for approval and a committee will be formed to ensure the foreign serials are cleared by the censor board.
During the meeting, the minister said additional tax must be given if a foreign artiste is cast in any local advertisement adding that rules on making advertisements with foreign artistes will be introduced soon.