The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Cable service providing organisations have engaged in bitter rivalry. Nine people, involved in the business, were murdered while hundreds left injured last year. The recent shootout at Media Satellite office by hooligans is one of the offshoots of this naked rivalry.

Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) yesterday organised a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in protest of the on-going aggression and terrorism in this business.

According to COAB, MGH Infocomm Limited, the authorised distributor of STAR, SONY, DISNEY & DISCOVERY channels for the territory of Bangladesh, is using thugs to oppress other cable operators to expand its business in the country. It alleged that MGH thugs sent a killing mission to murder the owner of Media Satellite on January 8 this year at its Mailbag Office. "Failing to kill, they shot and injured one of its staffs", COAB representatives said to reporters.

MGH has been given the right to provide service only in Gulshan area. "Violating the condition it has been trying to expand its business to the other parts of the city like Malibag, Uttara, Motijheel, Mohammadpur, etc by illegal fiber optic cable for several years" said COAB.

Speakers claimed MGH created anarchy in the business by using a retired army officer. Though there are several cases filed against Anis Ahmed Gorkey, Managing Director of MGH Group, he is still out of any trial, said COAB representatives.

COAB urged the Home Ministry to take immediate steps to stop the violence to save the industry.

Reza-un-Nabi Al Mamun of Rajshahi Communication Cable Network, SM Shamsur Rahman Shimul, Director, Satellite Vision, Syed Habib Ali, Ideal Cable TV Network, Syed Mosharaf Ali Chanchal, Director, United Communication Services Ltd, Md Shajahan Mia, New Star Cable Network, Md Nurul Islam, Chairman, United Communication Services Ltd, Al Amin, Director, United Communication Services Ltd, Mamun Sirajul Islam, Gazipur Cable Vision, Md Harunur Rashid, Mymensingh Multi Cable Network and Md Moniruzzaman, Media Cable Vision were present at the conference.