The country’s first satellite TV station Channel i began its journey on October 1, 1998, from a small building in Siddheshwari, Dhaka. With the theme “Hridoye Bangladesh”, the channel turned 15 yesterday. The stage has grown bigger for the TV station, with the channel moving to larger premises in Tejgaon.
At a press conference on September 29, managing director of Channel i, Faridur Reza Sagar and director and head of news Shykh Seraj explained the channel’s mission and programmes.
The Channel i premises, meanwhile, wore a festive look on October 1. Yesterday morning, a colourful horse-driven cart rally circled several streets of the capital. Veteran cultural personality and editor of weekly “Begum”, Nurjahan Begum inaugurated the day long programme. The well decorated open stage played host to daylong festivities, which included dances, musical performances, recitations and speeches from eminent personalities. The channel aired the programme live, as well as beaming three-day (September 30-October 2) special programmes from the studio.
Eminent guests at the anniversary programme including Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalama Azad, Prime Minister’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, chairman of Square Group Anjan Chowdhury, Chairman of ATN Bangla Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman, adviser of ATN Bangla Nawajesh Ali Khan and managing director of ntv Mosaddek Ali. A huge cake was also cut in the evening, to celebrate the channel’s birthday. Next was a glittering display of fireworks that lit up the evening sky.
Faridur Reza Sagar expressed optimism about their continuing goodwill. Shykh Seraj on the other hand asserted that the slogan “Hridoye Bangladesh” reveals how the station has become a channel for all the people of the country.
-With The Daily Star input
