Rise of the Channel-1 raised many eyebrows
Channel 1 came late in a procession of private television stations that obtained licenses during the last BNP rule, but made a stir in the screen partly because of its state-of-the-art equipment and also because of its political clouts.
Giasuddin Al Mamun, better known for his controversial business partnership with the then premier's son Tarique Rahman, launched the satellite channel on January 24, 2006 as its managing director with a few other known BNP leaders and adherents to its board.
TV viewers found it an interesting time for Channel 1 to hit the market when Mamun's clout in the then ruling coalition centring the so-called alternate powerhouse Hawa Bhaban had already earned him enough bad name.
Many eyebrows then raised as this TV station, still in toddling stage, ran apparently very bold reports against land grabbing by a sitting minister, public outcry for power outage in Kansat and enrolment of fictitious names in voters' list.
But future was destined otherwise for Channel 1. Too many people took interest in the affairs of this channel once the law enforcers put Mamun behind the bar on numerous charges.
The entire regime of the military-aided caretaker government saw people entering and departing in failed bids to put a stake on the then promising TV station.
After Mamun's arrest, its chairman, an ex-lawmaker of BNP tried to take command but got caught on graft charges later.Then one of the directors came to the scene amidst the increasing impatience of a private commercial bank over non-repayment of outstanding dues against the big chunk of loans sanctioned for the channel.
Many brilliant professionals later left the TV channel amidst cash crunch and fading professionalism, putting its slide down further in TRP (target rating point)
In recent months tension brewed, said insiders, on the question of whether to keep the channel's ownership under the board that was once helmed by Mamun or gradually transfer the ownership to its present operators.
Transmission of Channel 1 was suspended yesterday evening after Post and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said the government had decided to shut the channel.
Giasuddin Al Mamun, better known for his controversial business partnership with the then premier's son Tarique Rahman, launched the satellite channel on January 24, 2006 as its managing director with a few other known BNP leaders and adherents to its board.
TV viewers found it an interesting time for Channel 1 to hit the market when Mamun's clout in the then ruling coalition centring the so-called alternate powerhouse Hawa Bhaban had already earned him enough bad name.
Many eyebrows then raised as this TV station, still in toddling stage, ran apparently very bold reports against land grabbing by a sitting minister, public outcry for power outage in Kansat and enrolment of fictitious names in voters' list.
But future was destined otherwise for Channel 1. Too many people took interest in the affairs of this channel once the law enforcers put Mamun behind the bar on numerous charges.
The entire regime of the military-aided caretaker government saw people entering and departing in failed bids to put a stake on the then promising TV station.
After Mamun's arrest, its chairman, an ex-lawmaker of BNP tried to take command but got caught on graft charges later.Then one of the directors came to the scene amidst the increasing impatience of a private commercial bank over non-repayment of outstanding dues against the big chunk of loans sanctioned for the channel.
Many brilliant professionals later left the TV channel amidst cash crunch and fading professionalism, putting its slide down further in TRP (target rating point)
In recent months tension brewed, said insiders, on the question of whether to keep the channel's ownership under the board that was once helmed by Mamun or gradually transfer the ownership to its present operators.
Transmission of Channel 1 was suspended yesterday evening after Post and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said the government had decided to shut the channel.
__._,_.___
