The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to take necessary steps to stop broadcasting advertisements on foreign television channels running in Bangladesh.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan on September 20.

The lawyer in the petition said broadcasting advertisement on foreign channels in the country is prohibited under the Cable TV Network Operation Act 2006.

But some dishonest businessmen are providing advertisements to foreign TV channels without the government permission resulting in damaging the domestic industry, he said in the petition.

Under the act, the highest punishment is two years' imprisonment or Tk 1 lakh fine for violating the cable network rules, he told The Daily Star.

The information secretary, senior commerce secretary, chairman of National Board of Revenue, governor of Bangladesh Bank, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, director general of Bangladesh Television and inspector general of police have been made respondents to the rule.

Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas represented the government.