March 12: The Politics of Private TV Channel Ownership in Bangladesh

Lecturer: Abdur Razzaque Khan

PhD candidate at the JMSC, and assistant professor at the Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Chittagong (Bangladesh), Abdur Razzaque Khan, will talk this Friday about the Politics of Private Television Channel Ownership in Bangladesh.

The rapid growth of the private television channels in Bangladesh has given birth to many questions. Since the country’s first private television channel went on air in 1997, a boom has been witnessed in the private television sector. At present there are 11 private television channels in the country. However, another 11 private channels were given license in 2009-2010 and will operate soon; and even more private channels will be permitted to go on air shortly.

While providing licences to private television operators, the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party favours its party comrades and brushes aside all rules and regulation. Without political blessing it is very difficult to get any license. This talk focuses on how and why private television channel license procedures are politicized by the ruling party in Bangladesh with a view to consolidating its power in the country.

About the speaker:
Abdur Razzaque Khan is a PhD candidate at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre, HKU. He is also assistant professor and former chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Chittagong (Bangladesh). Khan completed his BA and MA in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh). Later he also earned an MPhil degree in Mass Communication from the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (IHS) of the National University, Bangladesh. Khan has more than 10 years experience in journalism, including the United News of Bangladesh, a major private news agency, and more than 11 years teaching experience at the university level.

All are welcome.

Date: March 12 (Friday), 2010
Time: 12 -1:30 p.m.
Venue: Shum Wai Yau reading room, Eliot Hall, HKU

Enquiries: Kylie Chan at telephone 22194416 or kyliec@hku.hk