Bangla TV
Encyclopedia
Bangla TV is a UK
-based satellite television channel targeting the Bengali speaking people
in the United Kingdom
, and in Europe
.
television channel in the UK. It operated as a subscription-only channel until 2005, following the arrival of Channel S
, a rival channel providing a free-to-air service targeting its programming specifically for the Bengali Sylheti
community in the UK. Following the launch of Channel S, Bangla TV also switched over to a non-subscription based model and to date have been providing the service free.
Bangla TV was removed from Sky channel 786 on 1 July 2010, before returning on 9 July, no explanation was provided. Bangla TV was again removed from the Sky EPG during December 2010 before being found in serious breach of Ofcom
rules. The channel returned again on 17 June 2011, under new management.
, Bangladesh Film Awards and Pitha Uthshob. Pitha Utshob is the biggest.
, a company run by the managing director of Channel S went into liquidation owning the public hundreds of thousands of pounds. Bangla TV exploited the frustration and anger of the public and took the opportunity to broadcast the publics views. It vilified the directors of the failed company and extraordinarily revealed personal details including addresses and vehicle registration details.
In a press statement displayed on the company's website, the directors stated that Bangla TV had been "irresponsible" in showing angry public opinion calling for the directors and their families to be "pursued" and not to rest until they were shown "naked in the street". The directors have also stated that Bangla TV had caused panic among the community by falsely stating that the company had gone bankrupt when it hadn't on 25 June 2007. As a direct result of these misrepresentations by Bangla TV, the company had no choice but to call in liquidators as the investment and cash-injection it was seeking at the time had fallen through.
Channel S chairman, Mahee Ferdaus Jalil, has filed defamation cases against a number of people which were shown on Bangla TV making allegations against him personally. Additionally, Channel S has filed an injunction against Bangla TV to prevent further allegations of impropriety by Channel S or its Chairman from being broadcast. However, as he is currently in jail, there is little he can do.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based satellite television channel targeting the Bengali speaking people
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
History
Launched in 1999, Bangla TV was the first Bengali languageBengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
television channel in the UK. It operated as a subscription-only channel until 2005, following the arrival of Channel S
Channel S
Channel S is a UK-based, free-to-air television channel targeting the British Bangladeshi community. The channel was established on 16 December 2004, by Mahee Ferdous Jalil - a Bangladeshi businessman in London. On Sky it had a timesharing deal with ATN Global, and then in 2005 it started to...
, a rival channel providing a free-to-air service targeting its programming specifically for the Bengali Sylheti
Sylhet Division
Sylhet Division , also known as Greater Sylhet or Sylhet region, is the northeastern division of Bangladesh, named after its main city, Sylhet...
community in the UK. Following the launch of Channel S, Bangla TV also switched over to a non-subscription based model and to date have been providing the service free.
Bangla TV was removed from Sky channel 786 on 1 July 2010, before returning on 9 July, no explanation was provided. Bangla TV was again removed from the Sky EPG during December 2010 before being found in serious breach of Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
rules. The channel returned again on 17 June 2011, under new management.
Rivalry
Since the arrival of Channel S, there has been rivalry between the two channels. Bangla TV had previously been the monopoly provider and as a result had broadcast many UK community based events such as the Baishakhi MelaBaishakhi Mela
The Baishakhi Mela celebrated in London, England, takes place across the area of Banglatown in the borough of Tower Hamlets in east London through Brick Lane to Weavers Fields and Allen Gardens in Bethnal Green. The event is a celebration of the Bengali New Year, with musical and cultural events...
, Bangladesh Film Awards and Pitha Uthshob. Pitha Utshob is the biggest.
First Solution Money Transfer scandal
In 2007, First Solution Money TransferFirst Solution Money Transfer
First Solution Money Transfer was a UK based private limited company which provided a money transfer service, providing expatriates the facilities to transfer money back to their family in Bangladesh....
, a company run by the managing director of Channel S went into liquidation owning the public hundreds of thousands of pounds. Bangla TV exploited the frustration and anger of the public and took the opportunity to broadcast the publics views. It vilified the directors of the failed company and extraordinarily revealed personal details including addresses and vehicle registration details.
In a press statement displayed on the company's website, the directors stated that Bangla TV had been "irresponsible" in showing angry public opinion calling for the directors and their families to be "pursued" and not to rest until they were shown "naked in the street". The directors have also stated that Bangla TV had caused panic among the community by falsely stating that the company had gone bankrupt when it hadn't on 25 June 2007. As a direct result of these misrepresentations by Bangla TV, the company had no choice but to call in liquidators as the investment and cash-injection it was seeking at the time had fallen through.
Channel S chairman, Mahee Ferdaus Jalil, has filed defamation cases against a number of people which were shown on Bangla TV making allegations against him personally. Additionally, Channel S has filed an injunction against Bangla TV to prevent further allegations of impropriety by Channel S or its Chairman from being broadcast. However, as he is currently in jail, there is little he can do.
Staff List
- Robin Hyder Khan - Facility Incharge
- Nasif Hasan - Animator and Graphic Disgner
- Afjal Hossain - Video Editor
- Sarwar Hossain Milu - Cameraman
- Bulbul Hasan - Head of Communications
- Adeet Maswood- Marketing executive
- Zobaida Sumi-programme producer and presenter