Islamic TV

Islamic TV is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language television channel focused primarily on Islamic religious programming. It launched in April 2007 as a satellite and cable broadcaster headquartered in Dhaka's Hatirpool neighborhood. The channel was established as the first television service in Bangladesh dedicated specifically to religious programming, although its schedule also included news and entertainment content. One of the channel's founders and owners was Sayeed Iskander, the younger brother of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The channel's founding chairman and director was Sardar Sahabuddin Mintu. Its religious orientation gave it a distinctive position within Bangladesh's television market, where general-interest broadcasters dominated the national broadcast landscape. Islamic TV's programming included religious discussion and instructional content as well as current-affairs material. A listed program was “Islamer Aloke Chikithsha Biggan,” a Bengali title concerning medicine and science in the light of Islam. Islamic TV's most consequential period began in May 2013, when the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission ordered it off the air alongside Diganta Television. The shutdown occurred in the early hours of 6 May. According to the channel's managing director, Shams Eskander, law-enforcement personnel entered the headquarters, damaged broadcasting equipment, and vandalized the office. The government gave a different account of the regulatory action, saying that Islamic TV's reporting on a security operation involving Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh contained irresponsible exaggerations and misinformation that could inflame public opinion and breached the conditions of its broadcasting licence. Government officials also described the two channels as having encouraged unrest and incited opposition to the government. The closure became politically controversial. Critics characterized it as an example of the government of Sheikh Hasina using concerns about Islamist mobilization to suppress dissenting or opposition-aligned media. The authorities did not immediately revoke the channels' licences, and former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said that no final decision had been taken regarding their permanent status. Islamic TV consequently remained a notable example of a broadcaster that ceased transmission without a clearly documented licence cancellation in the available reference material. After political changes in Bangladesh in 2024, the Dhaka Reporters Unity called for the reinstatement of media outlets that it considered unjustly closed, including Islamic TV. Preparations for a relaunch subsequently began. The channel reportedly conducted test transmissions in late January 2026 and made a soft return on 19 February 2026, coinciding with the first day of Ramadan in Bangladesh. Its renewed operation was initially limited rather than a fully documented nationwide restoration. In May 2026, its head of operations, Shahjanul Islam Palash, said that the channel reached approximately 40% to 45% of Bangladesh's geographical areas. Islamic TV's current identity therefore combines religious broadcasting with a politically significant institutional history. Its long interruption, unresolved regulatory legacy, and reported 2026 return distinguish it from an ordinary continuous television brand. The available reference material does not establish a complete current ownership structure, a definitive nationwide distribution footprint, or a full post-relaunch programming schedule.

Islamic TV began broadcasting in April 2007 as a Bengali-language satellite and cable channel in Bangladesh. It was founded as the country's first television station devoted to religious programming. The station was based in the Hatirpool area of Dhaka. Sayeed Iskander, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was among its founders and owners, while Sardar Sahabuddin Mintu served as chairman and founding director. The channel's stated programming identity centered on Islam, but its output was not limited to devotional material: it also carried news, entertainment, and programs linking contemporary subjects with Islamic perspectives. The station's operating history was interrupted in 2013. At approximately 2:30 a.m. on 6 May, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission forced Islamic TV to stop transmitting. Diganta Television was closed in the same operation. Islamic TV managing director Shams Eskander alleged that law-enforcement personnel entered the channel's headquarters, destroyed broadcasting equipment, and damaged the office. The government justified the shutdown on licensing and public-order grounds. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said that Islamic TV's coverage of the security operation against Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh included exaggerated and misleading claims that could provoke public unrest and therefore violated the terms of its licence. The closure generated a political dispute over the boundary between broadcast regulation and suppression of opposition media. Critics accused the Sheikh Hasina government of invoking the Islamist issue to silence dissenting voices. At the same time, the authorities characterized Islamic TV and Diganta Television as channels that encouraged riots or incited opposition to the government. Their licences were not immediately revoked, leaving their long-term legal status unresolved in the available account. This distinction was important because the broadcasters ceased operation without a clearly recorded final cancellation of their licences. Sardar Sahabuddin Mintu died on 25 October 2015. The channel remained off the air for roughly thirteen years. On 8 August 2024, the Dhaka Reporters Unity publicly demanded that Islamic TV and other media outlets closed in what it considered unjust circumstances be restored. Preparations for a formal return then proceeded. Islamic TV reportedly began fresh test transmissions in late January 2026 and soft-launched on 19 February, coinciding with the beginning of Ramadan in Bangladesh. This was a limited resumption rather than a fully documented restoration of its former coverage. In May 2026, head of operations Shahjanul Islam Palash stated that the renewed channel reached approximately 40% to 45% of areas in Bangladesh. The available references do not provide a complete account of its current ownership, licence terms, technical distribution, or full schedule.

• 2026

  Soft relaunch

  [1]Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel conducts reported test broadcasts in January and resumes limited broadcasting on 19 February, the first day of Ramadan in Bangladesh.

• 2024

  Reinstatement campaign

  [1]Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Dhaka Reporters Unity calls for the reinstatement of Islamic TV and other media outlets closed in Bangladesh.

• 2015

  Death of founding chairman

  [1]Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org

  Founding chairman and director Sardar Sahabuddin Mintu dies on 25 October.

• 2013

  Regulatory shutdown

  [1]Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission stops Islamic TV's transmissions on 6 May, together with Diganta Television.

• 2007

  Channel launches

  [1]Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org

  Islamic TV begins Bengali-language satellite and cable broadcasting in Bangladesh as a channel dedicated to religious programming.

A Bengali-language Bangladeshi television channel centered on Islamic religious programming, with supplementary news and entertainment content.

• Television broadcasting · 2007

  Islamic TV religious broadcasting

  The channel's core offering is Bengali-language television centered on Islamic religious content. Its schedule has also included news and entertainment, making it a mixed-format broadcaster rather than a service limited exclusively to sermons or worship programming. Islamic TV distributes its programming through satellite and cable systems in Bangladesh.

• Religious educational program

  Islamer Aloke Chikithsha Biggan

  A listed Islamic TV program whose Bengali title concerns medicine and science viewed through an Islamic perspective. The available reference identifies the program as part of the channel's programming but does not provide reliable details about its presenters, production period, format, or current availability.

• 2024Media reinstatement campaign

  Bangladesh

  The Dhaka Reporters Unity urged the authorities to restore Islamic TV and other media organizations it viewed as having been closed unjustly after the political transition surrounding Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

  Outcome. Preparations for Islamic TV's return were subsequently reported, followed by test transmissions and a soft relaunch in 2026.

  Source

• 2026

  Soft relaunch after prolonged suspensionStrategy

  Background

  Following calls to restore closed media outlets and preparations for renewed operation, Islamic TV conducted test transmissions before the start of Ramadan.

  Action taken

  The channel resumed limited broadcasting on 19 February 2026.

  Aftermath

  The head of operations reported in May 2026 that the renewed service reached approximately 40% to 45% of Bangladesh's areas.

  Source

• 2013

  Transmission shutdownOther

  Background

  The regulator and government linked the decision to Islamic TV's reporting on the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh raid, alleging exaggeration, misinformation, and incitement that breached licence conditions.

  Action taken

  The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission ordered Islamic TV to cease broadcasting on 6 May 2013.

  Aftermath

  The channel remained off the air for approximately thirteen years. Its licence was reportedly not immediately revoked, and critics disputed the political basis of the closure.

  Source

1. 1Islamic TVen.wikipedia.org