A legal notice has been sent to the Bangladesh government demanding the reopening of the Islamic television channel ‘Peace TV Bangla’, run by renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik.
On Sunday (July 13), Supreme Court lawyer Md. Ashraful Islam sent the notice.
Earlier, in July 2016, the government shut down Peace TV Bangla in Bangladesh following the Holey Artisan terrorist attack in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. One of the attackers was allegedly influenced by Dr. Zakir Naik’s speeches, prompting the authorities to ban the channel’s broadcast.
However, in a Q&A episode on his YouTube channel aired after the July uprising, Dr. Zakir Naik clarified that Peace TV has continued satellite broadcasts in Bangla, English, Urdu, and Chinese. According to him, the satellite transmission was never shut down; only the downlink permissions in Bangladesh and India were withdrawn, leading cable operators to stop airing the channel.
He further added that although the channel remains active via satellite, it is currently unavailable on Bangladesh’s cable networks.
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An application for permission has already been submitted, and if the interim government approves, Peace TV Bangla may resume cable broadcasts within a few days or weeks.
What Happened in 2016?
The July 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka claimed the lives of 22 people, including several foreigners. Investigations later revealed that one of the attackers was a regular viewer of Dr. Zakir Naik’s speeches. Following this, both Bangladesh and India banned Peace TV from being broadcast on cable networks.
The government’s response to the legal notice will be crucial. Balancing media freedom, religious content, national security, and freedom of expression will be key factors in making the final decision.
This development has already sparked debate on social media. While some see it as a matter of freedom of speech, others express concern over the previously controversial influence of Peace TV content. The issue could once again stir discussions both locally and internationally regarding religious broadcasting and state oversight.
