Dhaka: The High Court Thursday declared legal the government decision shutting down Jamuna TV, a private satellite television station, before it could come into public view.

An HC bench consisting of Justice Mahmud Hossain and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore upheld the government decision to stop transmission of the TV station, to the frustration of its crew.

The verdict was delivered after a lengthy legal intricacy over seven months on a petition filed by Jamuna Group managing director Shamim Islam on November 22 last year.

The court in its order said, ”The government decision to shut down Jamuna TV is legal. Canceling allocation of frequency to the television channel by Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission was also legal.”

In its edict the court further said, “The authority should have a compromise with the government to get a new license they applied for.”

It noted Jamuna TV applied for 'no-objection certificate’ on Oct 8 last year, but started transmission illegally while the matter was under consideration.

The court also ordered the government for a quick disposal of another application on no-objection certificate submitted by the channel.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission shut down the test transmission of Jamuna, owned by Jamuna Group chief Nurul Islam Babul, on November 19, just 35 days after it had launched the transmission, on the ground that the channel did not obtain the NOC before going on air.

The ruling also said Jamuna TV was awarded no-objection certificate on Feb 5, 2002 and the license expired on Feb 4, 2007.

The channel management applied for satellite transmission again on Oct 8, 2009. It is up to the administrative authorities to resolve the matter, according to the ruling.

Barrister Rafiq-ul-Haque pleaded for the petitioner.

BDST: 05:00 Hrs, May 20, 2010.     
JA/RR/MS/SMS/MUA