There are allegations that cable operators in certain parts of Dhaka are showing movies and other programmes that are accompanied by unauthorised advertisements.

According to a cable operator who didn't wished to be named for obvious reasons, they are mainly showing these commercials in their VCD movie and Star Plus channels.

An ad space in the channel that shows VCD items costs Tk.5, 000 for a whole month's broadcast. The clients provide their commercials in a CD. The ads are usually shown between the movies or during the disk-changing interval.

Another type of unlawful advertisement is popular with the unscrupulous operators which is known as scroll ad. A scroll ad costs around Tk.3, 000 for a month's viewing in the VCD channel. It is run even during the programme. Scroll ads are made by the cable operators and are placed at the bottom of the TV screen.

"The scroll ad can be arranged to be shown on Star Plus also. But the rate would be Tk. 15,000 a month," informed a cable operator.

Although the viewers are rather used to seeing irritating ads on the VCD and other channels, they still complain about the scroll effect, which often obstruct the movie or the programme.

When asked about this illegal practice, an operator claimed that they were showing very few such commercials nowadays.

Although this is an open secret, the government is surprisingly indifferent in taking stern steps to control unauthorised advertising on cable TV.