Reza Mahmud :
Abdus Salam, the pioneer of satellite television in Bangladesh and Chairman and CEO of Ekushey Television (ETV), has claimed that he became an enemy of Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Prime Minister, after focussing on vote rigging in the 2014 national elections on his channel.
In an exclusive interview with The New Nation, Salam detailed how his coverage of the election sparked a personal and political vendetta against him.
Salam, once a close associate of Hasina, stated that the enmity began when ETV aired footage of vote rigging in the 2014 elections. He claimed that Hasina became infuriated and sought to harm him through various means, including threatening him and attempting to stop certain programs such as “Janatar Kotha” (People’s Voice), which had gained significant public attention.
VOTE RIGGING AND HASINA’S ANGER
Salam explained that he had no hostility with Hasina before the 2014 election. “Whenever the channel broadcast the footage of vote rigging, I became an enemy of the autocratic Hasina,” he said. The act of vote rigging and the uncontested election of 154 MPs were unacceptable to me. This is not what the Awami League, a party rooted in the spirit of the liberation war, should stand for.”
ETV aired detailed footage of widespread irregularities during the polls, showing that the election was far from free and fair. “We presented evidence that it was not a national election at all,” Salam stated. “It was unacceptable that a party like the Awami League conducted such an election where the people could not vote freely.”
Following this, the government began exerting pressure on ETV, with various agencies, including the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), calling the channel and demanding the cessation of specific programs. However, Salam resisted these pressures.
ALTERCATION WITH HASINA
Salam recounted an incident in which Hasina summoned him to her office. “She said, ‘Salam, you have become overcourageous. You must stop the Janatar Kotha program.’ I replied that the program reflects the voice of the people. It is a valuable platform for the government to understand the public’s demands.”
Hasina responded harshly, accusing Salam and the program’s reporter, Kanak Sarwar, of orchestrating a drama. Despite the threats, Salam continued to air the program, further angering the government.
PLANS TO CONTAIN ABDUS SALAM
Salam claimed that the government and its agencies began plotting against him. He alleged that the DGFI’s Director General, Mamun Khaled, a former classmate, threatened to arrest Kanak Sarwar. In addition, Hasina assigned the responsibility of “containing” Salam to party leader Abdus Sobhan Golap.
“The DGFI, led by Commander Suhail, and S Alam, infamous for his notorious actions, combined forces to create a blueprint against me,” Salam said.
On 5 January 2015, ETV broadcast a speech by opposition leader Tarique Rahman, providing the government with an excuse to act against the channel. “That night, as I was heading home, several masked men entered my car and forced my driver to take us to the Detective Branch (DB) office,” Salam recounted.
The incident, caught on camera, aired on ETV the following morning. Despite initial denials from the DB, they eventually admitted to detaining Salam. “The government had plans to make me disappear,” Salam alleged.
REMAND AND COURT CASES
Salam further described the mental and physical torture he endured during his remand. “There were no cases filed against me initially, but eventually, a woman filed a case in connection to a report by an ETV journalist, implicating me under duress,” he explained. The court granted seven days of remand, during which Salam was pressured to sign a statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In total, seven cases were filed against Salam, including charges of money laundering, amassing illegal assets, and sedition. “Tarique Rahman was the number one accused in the sedition case, and I was number two,” he said. Salam described his time in jail as incredibly painful, having spent 30 years of his life in Germany before returning to Bangladesh.
S ALAM’S INFLUENCE ON ETV
Salam accused businessman S Alam of using government agencies like the DGFI and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to seize control of ETV. “ACC Deputy Director Samsul Alam, who was in S Alam’s pocket, filed a case accusing me of amassing illegal wealth. He repeatedly pressured me to hand over my shares of ETV to S Alam in exchange for my freedom. I refused,” Salam declared.
He further alleged that his brother, who was on the ETV Board of Directors, was detained by DGFI officers who held a pistol to his head to coerce him into signing over shares. Despite these efforts, Salam resisted.
ETV struggle
He further said, “The administration suspended ETV broadcasting in 2002,”describing the challenges faced by the channel. “After five years of struggle, I organised numerous processions, rallies, and meetings demanding the resumption of ETV’s operation. Finally, in 2007, we received permission to go back on air.”
During the years of suspension, Salam paid the wages of all journalists, officials, and employees from his personal funds. Upon resuming broadcasting, ETV regained its popularity with fresh programs and innovative ideas.
FUTURE HOPES AND PLANS FOR ETV
Salam expressed hope that justice would eventually prevail. “The mass uprising led by students has given us new independence, and I believe it will lead to a discrimination-free Bangladesh,” he said.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to freedom of speech and media. “Journalists must remain bold to protect these freedoms,” Salam urged.
In August 2015, Salam was reinstated as the Chairman of ETV, and the staff welcomed him with cheers. “The real owner has returned,” they declared.
Looking ahead, Salam stated that ETV had become a tool of Hasina’s dictatorship in his absence. However, he plans to introduce new programs for the benefit of the people, returning the channel to its original mission of serving the public interest.