IPL 2026: Bangladesh govt. opens door for broadcast in the country
Bangladesh's new government has lifted the ban on broadcasting the Indian Premier League (IPL), signaling a shift towards a more commercial approach. Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirmed no restrictions exist, and any broadcaster can telecast the tournament positively. Cable operators also stated previous directives are no longer valid, allowing IPL broadcasts.
Bangladesh has indicated a significant shift in its stance on broadcasting the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirming that there is no restriction on telecasting the tournament in the country. The development comes after uncertainty surrounding the IPL broadcast following a ban imposed by the previous interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. The earlier directive had prevented local channels and operators from airing the tournament, leaving fans without access to one of the world’s most popular T20 leagues.
However, the new administration appears to be taking a more flexible and commercially driven approach. Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Swapan clarified that no broadcaster had formally applied for telecast rights but assured that any such request would be considered positively. “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,” Swapan said. He further emphasized that the government would not impose restrictions on broadcasters, including international networks.
“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.