Popularising shows on current affairs

Muhammad Jahangir

In fact, it is Muhammad Jahangir who deserves the entire credit in this regard. For, he introduced the idea of a programme that let the viewers instantly present their opinions over the telephone and ask questions to the discussants on various selected issues. Jahangir named the programme Obhimot, the Bangla for opinion, and it was aired live on BTV.

The programme ran for about six years before it was suddenly stopped during the Awami League regime, Jahangir informs. 'Later I approached the Ekushey Television with a similar idea, but didn't get any response'. After the change of government, Jahangir wrote to the BTV about his interest in reviving Obhimot. But again, he was disappointed.

Regarding Tele Shomoy, Jahangir says that it was Faridur Reza Sagar of Channel-i who approached him for the programme. And he somewhat admits that the timing of the show--Friday, 10:30 am--is not so bad as BTV's 10:30 pm for Obhimot.

However, Jahangir is not entirely happy about everything regarding his present show. The promotionals for Tele Shomoy are very few in number and cannot be much effective, as they are not shown at proper times,' he says. 'Since the programme is a topic based one and the main attraction of it lies in the audience's participation, it is very much important to inform the viewers about the topic well ahead of the next show,' Jahangir explains.

Jahangir's greatest regret is, however, that he is not getting enough freedom in selecting the topics. 'I have wanted to conduct programmes on several current issues like the corruption, the Transparency International report on Bangladesh, the 'Third Force', two years of the coalition government, export of gas etc., but failed. The Channel-i authority has told me that there are "pressures from the higher level", ' Jahangir informs. 'From this, I must say that my experiences of working for both government and private TV channels are the same,' he concludes.

As long as audience participation is concerned, Jahangir points at two aspects. 'Firstly, those who make phone calls cannot always express their views properly because most of the times they don't have enough preparation due to the lack of effective publicity of the topics. Secondly, those who are learned do not participate in the debate--perhaps they don't like the idea of calling up to a TV programme.'

Jahangir opines that the electronic media is not yet independent in Bangladesh. 'Neither is the audience concerned enough regarding the role of the media,' says Jahangir. 'Television is meant for people, therefore they also have a role to play. If our people had wanted it honestly, ETV wouldn't have been stopped!'

Although we propagandise the television as a medium of education and constructive public opinion, along with entertainment, the 'magic box', it seems, is still largely used and believed to be meant for the latter alone.