Legal Notice Requesting a Defined Time Limit for Advertising on Television Channels

A legal notice has been issued, urging the establishment of a 'National Broadcasting Commission' and the implementation of a clear time limit for airing television advertisements, specifically restricting them to 8 to 10 minutes per hour.

The notice, sent via registered post on Thursday, was addressed to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Press Council, and the President of the Association of Television Channel Owners. It was issued by Supreme Court lawyer Taimur Alam Khandaker.

In the notice, Khandaker highlights the 'National Broadcasting Policy-2014' and points out that most countries, including neighboring ones, have established regulations that set a maximum duration for advertisements within each hour of broadcasting. This ensures a balanced distribution of time for programs, news, dramas, discussions, etc. However, Bangladesh currently lacks a specific policy governing the duration of advertisements, leading to television channel owners airing commercials for indefinite periods during their programming. As a result, viewers are increasingly frustrated, as the excessive commercial breaks interfere with their enjoyment of the content.

The notice requests that effective measures be taken within two weeks to set a specific time limit of 8 to 10 minutes for advertisements per hour on television channels. It also calls for the formation of a 'National Broadcasting Commission.' If these actions are not taken within the specified time, Khandaker states that the matter will be addressed in the public interest through legal action in the appropriate court.