New Delhi, March 28 (NationPress) Bangladesh has officially lifted the ban on broadcasting the Indian Premier League (IPL), as confirmed by the newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan. He stated that there are currently no prohibitions on airing the tournament within the nation.

In a notable shift in policy, Swapan emphasized the government's intention to separate politics from sports, opting to approach the situation from a commercial standpoint. He mentioned that any broadcasters interested in airing the IPL should reach out to the authorities, assuring that their requests would be favorably considered.

This announcement follows an earlier ban enacted by the former interim government, which had halted IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, causing uncertainty for broadcasters and cable operators just before the tournament.

“No one has submitted a request to us for airing the IPL. We are against merging politics with sports. Our focus will be on the commercial aspect, and any channel that seeks to broadcast the IPL will be given a positive response,” Swapan was quoted as saying by Deutsche Welle.

Swapan also noted that international sports networks, including Star Sports, are welcome to broadcast the IPL in Bangladesh if they opt to do so. He reassured that the government would not impose any restrictions nor obligate any broadcaster, indicating a more liberal stance towards sports broadcasting rights.

“We will not prevent anyone from airing it. If Star Sports decides to broadcast the IPL, they are free to do so. If our local channels wish to air it, we will respond positively, but we won’t enforce anything,” he added.

Previously, Aminul Haque, the State Minister for Youth and Sports, had indicated that the authorities would re-examine the situation and engage in discussions with relevant stakeholders following the prior ban. The latest statements from the Information Minister affirm that the government has decisively shifted away from that restrictive position.

In support of this development, the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh confirmed that there are no directives currently preventing the broadcast of IPL matches. Office secretary Rezaul Karim Lablu stated that cable operators would not obstruct any broadcast feeds in the absence of official orders.

Lablu further clarified that the directives from the previous administration under Muhammad Yunus are no longer applicable, stating that operators are free to carry IPL broadcasts unless new directives are issued.

“If Star Sports broadcasts the IPL in Bangladesh, they are allowed to do so because we have received no instructions to stop it. The previous government's directives hold no weight. If this government directs us to halt it, we will comply, as the prior orders are no longer valid,” Lablu affirmed.

The earlier ban had been instated by the interim government after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that the Kolkata Knight Riders terminate the contract of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, following backlash after incidents related to the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh.