Dhaka: Bangladeshi satellite TV channels may
soon be able to telecast their programmes in India,
Bangladesh`s Information Minister said on Tuesday.
"The chief ministers (of four Indian states) assured me
of taking steps so our private television channels can easily
be downlinked in India," Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad
told newsmen emerging from a meeting along with eight other
Bangladesh ministers on the sidelines of the talks between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his counterpart Sheikh
Hasina.
Azad added: "this will create an opportunity for building
people-to-people cooperation being wanted by both the
neighbours."
Bangladesh TV channels currently require permission from
Indian authorities for telecasting their programmes.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith moderated the
meeting held at Sonargaon Hotel on the sidelines of the
official talks between Hasina and Singh.
Chief minister of Mizoram PU Lalthanhawla, Chief Minister
of Tripura Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul
Sangma and Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi attended the
meeting.
After the meeting, State Minister for Forests and
Environment Hasan Mahmud told BSS that the finance minister
while moderating the discussion observed that Bangladesh would
get the benefit of India`s economic strength by enhancing
regional connectivity.
India, the fourth largest economy in the world, is the
second largest business partner of Bangladesh.
Manik Sarkar gave a statistic showing that Bangladesh
would be more beneficial than India from transit.
Talking to journalists, State Minister for Home Affairs
of Bangladesh Shamsul Haq Tuku said he drew attention of the
chief ministers to killing of innocent people in cross-border
areas and requested them to take steps to stop such
activities.
PTI
