DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said being a government institution the officials of Bangladesh Television (BTV) have to be a ‘true public service broadcasting institution’.

She also asked the officials to upgrade the quality of programmes aired on BTV otherwise it is very easy for the viewers to change channels.

Sheikh Hasina, also ruling Awami League president, made the observations at the inauguration ceremony marking the golden jubilee of Bangladesh Television, country’s first electronic media, at BTV Bhaban in the city.

She alleged that after winning the elections in 1991, Khaleda Zia raised BTV against the interest of countrymen.

Sheikh Hasina added that, even in earlier, military rulers used BTV to carry out their activities of usurping the power and distorting the history of liberation war consciously.

She also claimed that after forming the government in 1996, they took steps to free BTV from that inglorious affair and provided it chances to telecast true history of liberation war among the countrymen.

Praising BTV for its role in spreading the culture of Bangladesh around the globe, she asked the BTV officials to air social awareness building programmes, including the harmful effects of child marriage, development of agriculture, spreading education, women empowerment, raise health and environmental awareness among people and tree plantation.

BTV started its journey on December 25 of 1964 at the then Dhaka Improvement Trust (DIT) Building. 

Later, the station of BTV was shifted to its present location at Rampura in city on February 9 of 1975 after the initiatives taken by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she added.

BDST: 1821 HRS, DEC 25, 2014