TV Watch
Shomoy-er Kotha: Discussion series on crucial issues
Cultural Correspondent
Talking about discussion series "Shomoy-er Kotha", Syed Munir Khasru, the moderator of the show, says, "When I was approached by BTV authorities to plan an unbiased discussion programme on the current social, political and administrative issues, I had my reservations for a number of reasons. For one, I figured that BTV might censor some of the content. Besides, a major part of the educated, urban TV viewers have been snubbing BTV for years; the popular complaint being that the state-run channel doesn't offer interesting, edgy programmes." "After airing the first episode that featured an interview with Patricia A. Butenis, the former US ambassador, I was convinced that BTV is going to honour its part of commitment -- not censor contents it may not necessarily agree with or set restrictions," adds Khasru who is a faculty, Institute of Business Administration. So far five episodes have been aired highlighting issues including "Price Hike of Essentials", "Anti-corruption Drive", "Power Crisis" and more. Noted personalities including Dr. Mutafizur Rahman (research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue), Dr. Asaduzzaman (research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies), Professor Muzaffer Ahmed (chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh), Major General Shakil Ahmed (director general of BDR), Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud, Dr. Akbar Ali Khan (former advisor to the caretaker government of Bangladesh), A.N.M Rezwan(former PDB chairman), Tawfique-e-Elahi Choudhury (former secretary of the energy division) and Sharier Khan (City editor, The Daily Star) have participated in different episodes. The show planned by Khasru and directed by Abdun Noor Tushar, is aired every Friday at 9pm. Tonight's show will feature a discussion on "election Commission and Political Reform". Dr. Debopriyo Bhattacharjee (executive director, CPD), Dr. A.T.M. Shamsul Huda (chief election commissioner) and Dr. Kamal Hossain have addressed legal, administrative and economic aspects of political reform, the election roadmap, the need to introduce new stream of politics free from black money, dynastic rule and sycophancy in tonight's show.
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The moderator (L) of the show with tonight's guests |
