Order issued to bar airing Peace TV

Staff Correspondent: The government has issued an order cancelling the downlink permission for controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s channel Peace TV in Bangladesh.

The information ministry issued the order in this regard on Monday.

Joint secretary of the information ministry Akhtaruzzaman Talukdar confirmed the matter.

The information ministry order reads: “Based on the Cabinet committee’s decision, free-to-air TV channel Peace TV’s downlink permission has been cancelled for violating downlink conditions.”

The Cabinet committee on law and order yesterday decided to take the channel off air in the country.

The decision followed allegations that the Indian preacher’s speeches, sermons and explanation of Islam-related issues were ‘inspiring acts of terrorism’ and had radicalising influence on youths.

After the Cabinet committee’s decision on Sunday, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu had said the administrative steps would be taken on Monday morning to take the channel off air.
 
“Peace TV is not consistent with Muslim society, the Quran, Sunnah, Hadith, Bangladesh’s Constitution, our culture, customs and rituals,” he said.
 
Naik is the founder and president of Mumbai-based charity organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), which owns Peace TV. The contents in English, Urdu and Bangla are broadcast from Dubai.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 11, 2016/Hasan/Amirul