Basundhara chairman at Jamuna TV launch

The chairmen of Jamuna Group and Basundhara Group were seen together on Saturday amid long-standing differences between the two.

Basundhara boss Ahmed Akbar Sobhan attended the launching ceremony of Jamuna TV, owned by Nurul Islam Babul, chairman of Jamuna group.

The feud between the two groups got embittered over the issue of approach road to the Basundhara Residential Area following construction of Jamuna Future Park, a mall owned by Jamuna Group, adjacent to it.

The reports carried by the media outlets owned by the two groups targeting each other created quite a sensation among the readers.

However, a few years ago the two conglomerates were even seen operating together in joint ventures despite their differences.

But it was not long before they were seen targeting each other.

Basundhara Group’s East West Media Ltd controls two Bengali dailies, an English daily and an online newspaper. It has also obtained a license for a TV channel.

Apart from the television channel, Jamuna Group owns a Bengali daily.

Information minister Hasanul Huq Inu launched the broadcast of Jamuna TV on Saturday. The prime minister’s adviser HT Imam and Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud also attended the ceremony.

Jamuna TV was knocked-off the air on Nov 19, 2009, just after 35 days into test transmission. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission shut down its operation for not having government clearance.

The matter went to the court and on Jul 29 last year Jamuna once again got the broadcasting license.