Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists on Saturday welcomed Information Minister Hasan Mahmud's insistence on ad-free (clean-feed) broadcasting of foreign TV channels. No foreign channel has actually responded yet though by freeing up their broadcast in Bangladesh of advertisements catering to foreign markets. Instead they all simply remain off air in Bangladesh, after cable and DTH box operators fell in line with a directive from Mahmud's ministry to stop broadcast of foreign channels that do not provide a clean feed in Bangladesh. In two separate statements on Saturday, BFUJ President Mollah Jalal, Secretary General Abdul Majid and DUJ President Quddus Afrad and General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu said the country's economy, artists, culture and media industry have been affected for a long time due to non-broadcasting of ad-free or clean feed on foreign TV channels. Read: 'Clean feed' may lead to foreign channels' ad slots catering to local market The country is being deprived of investment worth at least two thousand crore Tk as a result, added the journalist leaders. The financial crisis in the domestic television industry will be reduced to a great extent because of implementing clean feed, they said,. Their reasoning was not explained. The statements also said that the decision to not broadcast foreign TV channels did not come from the government but from cable operators. Thanking the information and broadcasting minister for implementing clean feed, the journalist leaders demanded announcement of a wage board for broadcast journalists.Strong steps should be taken to ensure fair salaries and job security for everyone related with the journalism profession, the statements read.

Starting Friday, mobile courts will carry out drives to ensure cable operators broadcast advertisement-free foreign TV channels in Bangladesh. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud made the announcement on Thursday. Read: No one stays hungry in Bangladesh thanks to Sheikh Hasina, says Info Minister “We will conduct mobile courts from October 1 across the country. If the serial determined for television on cable lines at the tripartite meeting of the Ministry, the Television Owners’ Association and cable operators is not maintained and advertisements are shown, legal action will be taken against the distributors, operators who have the downlink approval of those channels," he told reporters. Read: Info Minister for strengthening Dhaka-Delhi people-to-people ties In countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, "the cable operators can't broadcast foreign TV channels without clean feed", the Minister said. “The operators were already informed in August about the drive. The excuse of foreign channels not sending clean feeds will no longer be tolerated,” he added.