Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina releases a cluster of balloons inaugurating the seven-day golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh Television at its headquarters at Rampura in the city on Thursday. PID Photo Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Bangladesh Television would no more be used as a medium of the government as military dictator Ziaur Rahman tried to erase the country’s history through the channel. “Bangladesh Television will be developed as the medium of the people instead of the government only,” Hasina said while addressing a programme, marking the golden jubilee of the state-run channel. She alleged that the channel was used in the past to usurp state power. “Nobody will be able to use the channel in usurping state power in future.” BTV organised a seven-day festival at its headquarters in Rampura to celebrate the august occasion. “After assuming office illegally,” Hasina alleged, “Zia tried to distort history misusing BTV.” “Zia not only rehabilitated anti-liberation elements, but also undertook a plan to destroy spirit of independence,” she said, adding that military dictators after the post-1975 carnage used BTV as a tool to delete real history. The premier alleged that conspiracies started to turn the country a province of Pakistan after the assassination of Bangabandhu. “It was forbidden to utter the name of the father of the nation in all state-run BTV and Betar. Slogans during the liberation war and the immortal songs, which inspired freedom lovers, were also forbidden in the state media,” she said, adding that words like Razakar and Al-Badr were also forbidden. Hasina claimed the situation has changed a lot over time as the young generation is too aware now. “The new generation is very much aware of the history of war and it becomes possible due to the role of the state-run media.” “We have already taken measures to develop the channel. As a national channel, we want its further development,” she said, thanking the officials who have been working with BTV since its inception. Recalling the 1996 government’s measures, the PM said the Awami League government made a move to stop the practice of blatant lies in state media. “The government paved the way for airing real history among new generation.” Stressing the need for spreading BTV activities, Hasina said, “The channel will play an important role in spreading education and culture.” Describing the present state of BTV, she said the state-run channel is functioning based on the development of the general public and airing programmes with liability. The PM mentioned that BTV has been playing a praiseworthy role in portraying the country’s rich culture abroad. She highly lauded the activities of BTV as it is helping the government implement “Vision 2021”. “The channel also plays an important role in bringing war criminals to book,” she said, directing the BTV authorities to compete with private satellite channels through quality programmes. BTV began its auspicious journey on this day in 1964 in DIT Bhaban, now RAJUK headquarters. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman named the channel as Bangladesh Television after independence.
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