DHAKA: Bangladesh has finally lifted its ban on broadcasting the IPL following a controversy that earlier disrupted its cricketing engagements.
The newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirmed that there are currently no restrictions on airing the tournament in the country. He emphasised that the government does not intend to mix politics with sport and will instead evaluate the matter from a commercial standpoint.
“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, we will consider it positively,” Swapan said.
He added that international broadcasters such as Star Sports are free to air the IPL in Bangladesh, underlining a more open approach to sports broadcasting rights.
“We will not bar anyone from telecasting it. If Star Sports wants to broadcast it, they can. If any of our channels want to do so, we will take it positively, but we will not force anything,” he said.
The clarification comes after an earlier ban imposed by the previous interim administration, which had halted IPL telecasts and created uncertainty among broadcasters and cable operators ahead of the season.
Earlier, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque had indicated that authorities would revisit the issue and consult stakeholders. Swapan’s latest remarks now confirm a clear shift away from that restrictive stance.
Meanwhile, the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh has also backed the move, stating that there are no directives in place to block IPL broadcasts. Office secretary Rezaul Karim Lablu said operators would not restrict any feed in the absence of official instructions.
Lablu further noted that directives issued under the previous administration led by Muhammad Yunus are no longer applicable, allowing operators to carry IPL broadcasts unless fresh orders are issued.
“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 comply,” he said.
The earlier ban was imposed after the Board of Control for Cricket in India asked Kolkata Knight Riders to terminate Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s contract for IPL 2026, following tensions linked to incidents in the country.
Agencies
Bangladesh lifts IPL broadcast ban imposed after Mustafizur row
