Bangladesh Lifts Ban on IPL Telecast, Says Sports Should Not Mix With Politics

Delhi/Hyderabad, Mar 28: Bangladesh has allowed the telecast of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirming that there are currently no restrictions on broadcasting the tournament in the country.

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In what is being seen as a policy shift, the minister said the government does not want to mix sports with politics and will instead view the matter from a commercial standpoint. He said any broadcaster interested in telecasting the IPL can apply for permission and their requests would be considered positively.

The announcement comes after uncertainty created by an earlier decision of the previous interim administration, which had effectively halted IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh ahead of the 2026 season.

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Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Swapan clarified that no broadcaster had formally applied for permission to telecast the IPL so far.

“No one applied to us to telecast the IPL. We don’t want to mix politics with sport. We will look at it from a commercial perspective, and if any channel applies to telecast the IPL, we will consider it positively,” he said.

Broadcasters free to take commercial call

The minister also said that international sports broadcasters such as Star Sports are free to air IPL matches in Bangladesh if they choose to do so. He stressed that the government would neither impose restrictions nor force any broadcaster to carry the tournament.

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“We will not bar anyone from telecasting it. If Star Sports wants to telecast it, they can. If any of our channels want to telecast it, we will take it positively, but we will not force anything,” he added.

Earlier restrictions now irrelevant

Earlier, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque had indicated that the government would review the earlier ban and hold consultations with stakeholders. The latest statement from the Information Minister now makes it clear that the government has moved away from the earlier restrictive position.

The Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh has also supported the move, stating that there are no active directives preventing IPL broadcasts.

Association office secretary Rezaul Karim Lablu said cable operators would not block any sports channels unless officially instructed by the government.

He also clarified that directives issued during the previous administration led by Muhammad Yunus are no longer applicable.

“If Star Sports telecasts the IPL in Bangladesh, they can do it because no one has asked us to stop it. Those directives of the interim government do not have any value. If this government asks us to stop it, we will do so,” Lablu said. (Maxim News)

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