Two New TV Licences Granted to Anti-Discrimination Movement Leaders

The interim government has approved licences for two new television channels, named ‘Next TV’ and ‘Live TV’.

The licence for Next TV has been granted to Md. Arifur Rahman Tuhin, the Joint Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP). Tuhin joined the National Citizens Committee in December 2024. Prior to his political engagement, he worked as a staff reporter for an English-language daily newspaper. Following the formation of the NCP, he was appointed as the party’s Joint Chief Coordinator.

The licence for Live TV has been awarded to another individual named Arifur Rahman. He completed his studies at Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research approximately six years ago. During his student life, he worked as the Dhaka University correspondent for an English-language daily. He was a member of the National Citizens Committee, though he did not join the NCP.

There are questions about whether Arifur Rahman Tuhin and Arifur Rahman possess the financial capability to establish and operate a television channel. The basis on which their licences were approved remains unclear. Efforts to obtain a statement from Mahfuz Alam, Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, were unsuccessful. Written queries sent to the ministry’s public relations officer also went unanswered.

The Media Reform Commission, formed by the interim government, highlighted concerns regarding private television channels. The report noted that in granting licences to the private sector, party allegiance, nepotism, and corruption have influenced decisions. As a result, licences have been issued far beyond economic and market capacity, creating a chaotic situation in the media sector.