Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmood said that if the cable network goes digital, viewers, operators, and the government will all benefit. Viewers will get more channels and a clear picture, operators will get accurate business accounts and government revenue. At the same time, he emphasized the fact that everyone, including marginalized groups, should have the opportunity to buy the set-top boxes as per their ability. He said this at the Iftar meeting organized by the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (QUAB) at the Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in Kakrail in the capital on Tuesday evening. Hasan Mahmud said, “We don’t want to digitize the network by dividing each area. The digitalization process can also be accompanied by analog methods at the beginning. However, in digital mode, all domestic and foreign channels can be seen and in analog mode, only domestic channels can be seen. The Minister of Broadcasting reminded me that the journey of private television in the country started at the hands of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now there are about 36 TV channels on air, with more coming. Without it, there would be no TV channel owners or cable operators today. So, under the leadership of whom the country is moving forward at an unstoppable speed, due to whom the development of this industry, I request you to keep this progress under the leadership of him. Hasan Mahmud praised the role of cable operators in bringing TV channels to people across the country, including marginalized groups, for decades. He thanked them for their cooperation in keeping foreign channels ad-free or clean feed broadcast and TV channels in line with the law. In view of the demands raised by Quab leaders, the minister said that if cable operators start providing internet connections, as one business area will enter another, the same applies to OTT platforms and all others. Once the final draft of the OTT policy is approved by the High Court, specific steps can be taken in this regard. General Secretary Syed Mosharraf Ali, Vice President Rashedur Rahman Malik, and Syed Habib Ali, former President Anwar Parvez addressed the meeting chaired by QUAB President ABM Saiful Hossain. Ekatar TV Chairman Mozammel Haque Babu, Asian TV Chairman Harunur Rashid along with responsible officials of private television channels were present at the iftar.
