News Broadcasting
Bangladesh’s Ekushey Television off air as of Thursday
MUMBAI: Ekushey Television (ETV), Bangladesh’s first private terrestrial television channel, went off air on Thursday. The ETV’s terrestrial broadcast was shut down by the government at 5:00 pm after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld a High Court Division verdict declaring the license of the ETV illegal.
At 10:50 pm, ETV went off air following a formal announcement, Bangladesh’s Daily Star has reported . However, it is contemplating filing a writ against the government’s stopping the telecast.
The Appellate Division yesterday dismissed the review petitions filed by the ETV and the ETV chairman and the foreign investors. A seven-member full court of the Appellate Division chaired by Chief Justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury delivered the judgement at 11:35 am, according to the Star.
On 27 March, the High Court declared the ETV’s licensing agreement illegal following a writ petition made by individuals supporting the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party that the station did not win its license fairly during the regime of the earlier government. On 2 July, the Appellate Division rejected a leave to appeal petition by the ETV, upholding the High Court verdict that the ETV license was illegal. However, the court stayed the verdict for five weeks and then for three more weeks leaving the scope to file a review petition.
Three years ago, the channel commenced broadcast as both a terrestrial and a satellite channel. In 2000, a petition was filed against it by members sympathetic to the governing coalition led by the BNP. It questioned the manner in which ETV topped the list of parties when international bids were invited for setting up a private television channel in the country in 1998.
Lawyers for the station, which is backed by the American banking firm Citicorp, had argued that if the licensing process is found to be defective, it could be replaced by another. Citicorp has invested over 100 million Tk in the venture.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
