Censorship slapped on Bangladesh media after declaration of emergency

The Press Information Department (PID) under the Information Ministry, when asked late on Thursday night, told Xinhua that all private television channels have been restricted not to telecast any news of their own. A PID official demanding his anonymity said the private television channels have been advised to broadcast only the news bulletin of the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) .

A press report on Friday said the PID through phone calls to print and electronic media directed them not to be critical of the government. When contacted the PID officials said president's house gave them the directive on the matter and to convey the order to the media.

A high official at president's house on Friday said that the restriction has been imposed as it had been during previous emergency periods.

The official order will be issued soon, the PID officials said. Last emergency was imposed during the rule of military autocrat Hussain Muhammad Ershed, who ruled the country from March 1982 to 1990.