Minister of State for Information Prof Abu Sayeed yesterday told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government had taken necessary steps to improve the service of the national media, particularly the Bangladesh Televislon(BTV), reports BSS.

Replying to a supplementary question, the State Minister said the past governments during the last 21 years had not taken any steps to improve the services of the national media like television. Rather they had indulged in politicising which degraded the quality otservices of the national media.

He said due to the extreme politicisation by the past government. the Japanese government had stopped its grant for the modernisation and development of Bangladesh Television.

He said following the fruitful visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan this year, the

Japan government has revived its grant. Once the grant amounting to Taka 94 crore is available, the government would take necessary steps, including procurement of equipment and recruitment of efficient manpower for improving the services of the television.

Referring to the proposal for enhancement of the duration of live telecast of the proceedings of the Jatiya Sangsad from the existing one-hour to two hours, the state minister said it would be possible only after improvement of the television service in terms of equipment and manpower.

Earlier, the state minister told Meer Shakawat All Daru (AL-Bagerhat) that the government had no plans to set up a television relay centre at Bagerhat. He said the areas of Bagerhat are well covered by the Tv relay station located at Khulna divisional town.