Crackdown on Zakir Naik: B’desh cancels Peace TV downlink permit

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Monday cancelled downlink permission for Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s “Peace TV”, a day after it banned the channel over reports that

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Monday cancelled downlink permission for Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s “Peace TV”, a day after it banned the channel over reports that his “provocative” speeches encouraged some militants to unleash the worst terror attack in the Muslim-majority nation.

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The information ministry issued the order cancelling the permission mandatory for television broadcasts.

“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 ministry said.

Its spokesman said copies of the circular have been sent to the home ministry, press information department, state-run BTV and cable operators association KOAB.

Reports from Bangladesh said that cable operators have begun stopping broadcast of the channel throughout the country after the government order.

The action came a day after the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order decided to ban the Mumbai-based preacher’s channel. The doctor-turned televangelist is facing heat in India and Bangladesh after it emerged that Naik’s speeches goaded some of the militants who stormed the upmarket cafe in Dhaka’s diplomatic area on July 1, triggering a hostage situation.