Independent Television

Independent Television, commonly known as ITV, is a privately owned Bangladeshi Bengali-language television channel focused primarily on 24-hour news and current-affairs programming. It broadcasts through satellite and cable distribution and is headquartered in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The channel is owned by BEXIMCO, one of Bangladesh's major business groups, and operates within the country's competitive private television and news-media sector. The channel's development began with an initiative involving BEXIMCO and India-based NDTV. A broadcasting licence had been issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in October 2009, and the planned service was subsequently developed as a dedicated Bangladeshi news channel. Independent Television began test transmissions on 20 October 2010 and formally commenced broadcasting on 28 July 2011. Independent Television has positioned itself around rolling news, political and public-affairs coverage, live reporting, interviews, analysis, and discussion programmes. Its presentation model has included an open-newsroom studio concept and links with bureau offices in Bangladesh's six divisional areas, enabling live contributions and regional perspectives. Alongside hard-news output, the channel has carried programmes concerning business, culture, entertainment, sport, consumer activity, and other aspects of public life. The channel's programming has included the current-affairs and discussion show Ajker Bangladesh, as well as Rat 9 Tar Bangladesh, Joto Khela, Talash, and Goal. It also produced the quiz programme Bangladesh Jiggasha, which premiered in October 2018. Seasonal and holiday programming has included Bazar Sodai, a shopping-oriented programme broadcast around the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Independent Television has also been associated with technical innovation in Bangladeshi television broadcasting. It was described as the country's first television channel to use MPEG-4 transmission technology, while its production and distribution workflow was designed around Media Asset Management principles for multi-profile delivery. In December 2018, the channel began broadcasting through the Bangabandhu-1 satellite. Its editorial and corporate position has been affected by Bangladesh's broader political and business environment. M Shamsur Rahman has served as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief. In August 2024, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the channel's headquarters was attacked and vandalized by mobs, although the service reportedly remained on air. Later that month, a Dhaka court restricted Rahman's international travel during investigations involving alleged financial misconduct linked to BEXIMCO vice chairman Salman F Rahman. In September 2024, Orion Group filed a defamation case against the channel over reports concerning alleged financial wrongdoing. These allegations and legal matters should be understood as reported disputes rather than established findings unless resolved by a court or authoritative investigation.

Independent Television emerged from a plan to establish a Bangladeshi private news channel supported by BEXIMCO and India-based NDTV. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission granted the service a broadcasting licence on 20 October 2009. Development continued through 2010, when the channel conducted test transmissions beginning on 20 October. Its formal launch followed on 28 July 2011, establishing Independent Television as a Bengali-language satellite and cable broadcaster with a primarily news-oriented schedule. During its formative period, veteran journalist Toufique Imrose Khalidi was appointed editor-in-chief. He was later replaced before the commercial launch by M Shamsur Rahman, who became chief executive officer and editor-in-chief. The channel's editorial model emphasized continuous news coverage, studio discussion, interviews, and live reporting. It introduced an open-newsroom presentation concept and connected its Dhaka operation with bureau offices in each of Bangladesh's six administrative divisions. This arrangement was intended to support live regional reporting and analysis rather than concentrating all coverage in the capital. Technology was a significant part of the channel's early identity. Independent Television was described as the first television channel in Bangladesh to use MPEG-4 transmission technology. Its technical workflow was organized around Media Asset Management, allowing material to be prepared for distribution in multiple profiles. The technology operation was led by chief technology officer Anowarul Azim. These systems supported a modern television-news operation combining live broadcasts, studio production, field reporting, and multi-platform content handling. Independent Television's schedule has remained centered on news and public affairs but has not been limited to straight news bulletins. Its programming has included Ajker Bangladesh, a news and discussion programme previously hosted by Khaled Muhiuddin, along with Rat 9 Tar Bangladesh, Joto Khela, Talash, and Goal. The channel has also carried programming related to culture, business, entertainment, and sport. In October 2018, it broadened its format mix with the launch of Bangladesh Jiggasha, a quiz programme. In December of the same year, it began using the Bangabandhu-1 satellite for broadcasting, marking an important distribution development for a national television service. The channel has operated within a politically sensitive media environment. Following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024, mobs attacked and vandalized Independent Television's headquarters. Despite the damage and the wider disruption affecting several Bangladeshi broadcasters, the channel reportedly remained on air. On 13 August 2024, a Dhaka court imposed a travel restriction on M Shamsur Rahman while authorities investigated allegations involving money laundering connected to BEXIMCO vice chairman Salman F Rahman and alleged embezzlement involving multiple banks. The allegations were reported in the context of wider scrutiny of business and political relationships in Bangladesh and should not be treated as proven criminal findings without a final legal determination. A further legal dispute arose in September 2024, when Orion Group filed a defamation case against Independent Television. The company alleged that the broadcaster had repeatedly transmitted misleading reports about alleged government-fund embezzlement and money laundering involving the group. The case illustrates the legal exposure faced by television news organizations when reporting on powerful corporate actors. Available reference material does not establish the final outcome of that litigation. Independent Television therefore remains best understood as an active BEXIMCO-owned Bangladeshi news broadcaster whose history combines private-sector media investment, technical modernization, broad current-affairs programming, and exposure to the country's political and legal pressures.

1. 2018Bangladesh Jiggasha premieres

   The channel premiered the quiz programme Bangladesh Jiggasha on 12 October 2018.

   Source
2. 2018Bangabandhu-1 distribution begins

   Independent Television began broadcasting through the Bangabandhu-1 satellite in December 2018.

   Source
3. 2011Official channel launch

   The channel commenced regular broadcasting on 28 July 2011.

   Source
4. 2011MPEG-4 and Media Asset Management workflow

   Independent Television became known for using MPEG-4 transmission technology and a Media Asset Management-based workflow for multi-profile distribution.

   Source
5. 2010Test transmissions begin

   Independent Television began test transmissions on 20 October 2010.

   Source
6. 2009Broadcasting licence granted

   The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission granted a broadcasting licence for the planned news channel on 20 October 2009.

   Source

A Bangladeshi private television news brand combining rolling Bengali-language news with live reporting, political discussion, regional analysis, and selected business, cultural, entertainment, sports, and consumer programmes.

• Independent Television news serviceTelevision news channel2011

  The core offering is a 24-hour Bengali-language satellite and cable television service. It combines rolling news bulletins with live field reports, interviews, political coverage, current-affairs analysis, and regional contributions. The channel's open-newsroom presentation and divisional bureau links are designed to connect national coverage with reporting from across Bangladesh.

• Ajker BangladeshNews and current affairs

  Ajker Bangladesh is a news and discussion programme associated with Independent Television's current-affairs output. It provides a studio format for examining national events and public issues through reporting, interviews, and analysis. Khaled Muhiuddin hosted the programme during an earlier period of its run.

• Bangladesh JiggashaQuiz programme2018

  Bangladesh Jiggasha is a quiz programme produced by Independent Television. Its premiere on 12 October 2018 represented an expansion of the channel's schedule into general-interest programming alongside its established news and current-affairs formats.

• Bazar SodaiShopping and seasonal programming

  Bazar Sodai is a shopping-oriented special programme broadcast around the final day of Ramadan in connection with Eid al-Fitr. It illustrates Independent Television's use of seasonal consumer programming in addition to its regular news, public-affairs, and magazine-style output.

• 2018Launched Bangladesh JiggashaProduct launch

  Independent Television's schedule had primarily focused on news and current affairs, with additional programming in culture, business, entertainment, and sport.

  What changed. The channel premiered the quiz programme Bangladesh Jiggasha on 12 October 2018.

  Aftermath. The launch broadened the channel's general-interest programming portfolio.

  Source
• 2018Shifted satellite distribution to Bangabandhu-1Strategy

  Bangladesh's first communications satellite created a domestic satellite-distribution option for television broadcasters.

  What changed. Independent Television began broadcasting using the Bangabandhu-1 satellite in December 2018.

  Aftermath. The move added Bangabandhu-1 to the channel's distribution infrastructure.

  Source
• 2011Adopted a national open-newsroom and bureau-linked formatStrategy

  The channel entered Bangladesh's private television market with a model centered on continuous news, studio discussion, and live reporting from outside Dhaka.

  What changed. Independent Television developed an open-newsroom presentation concept and connected its operation with bureau offices in Bangladesh's six divisional areas.

  Aftermath. The format supported live regional analysis and became part of the channel's public editorial identity.

  Source
• 2011Implemented MPEG-4 and Media Asset Management technologyStrategy

  The new broadcaster sought a modern technical infrastructure capable of supporting television news production and distribution in multiple formats.

  What changed. Independent Television used MPEG-4 transmission technology and designed its workflow around Media Asset Management principles.

  Aftermath. The channel was described as Bangladesh's first television broadcaster to use MPEG-4 transmission technology.

  Source

• 2024Attack and vandalism of headquartersControversy

  After Sheikh Hasina resigned on 5 August 2024, mobs attacked and vandalized Independent Television's headquarters. The channel reportedly continued broadcasting despite the incident.

  Source
• 2024Travel restriction involving chief executive and editor-in-chiefControversy

  A Dhaka court reportedly barred M Shamsur Rahman from leaving Bangladesh on 13 August 2024 during investigations into alleged money laundering and alleged embezzlement linked to BEXIMCO-related business affairs. The available reference does not establish a final judgment.

  Source
• 2024Defamation case brought by Orion GroupControversy

  Orion Group filed a defamation case against Independent Television on 19 September 2024, alleging repeated misleading reporting about alleged embezzlement of government funds and money laundering. The final outcome is not established in the available reference material.

  Source

• 2018Independent Television launches Bangladesh Jiggasha

  The channel premiered its quiz programme Bangladesh Jiggasha on 12 October 2018, extending its schedule beyond conventional news and current affairs.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2018Independent Television begins Bangabandhu-1 satellite broadcasting

  In December 2018, Independent Television began broadcasting using Bangladesh's Bangabandhu-1 satellite.

  Product generation
  Source
• 2011Independent Television begins regular broadcasting

  Independent Television officially began broadcasting on 28 July 2011 after a period of test transmissions.

  Other
  Source

1. Independent Television (Bangladesh)
2. Independent Television official website