BEXIMCO#Akash Digital TV

The company was founded by brothers A. S. F. Rahman and Salman F Rahman in 1972, right after the independence of Bangladesh. Their family was earlier engaged in the jute business. The jute factory was nationalized in the early 1970s. However, with free-market reforms in the late 1970s and 1980s, the family regained many of their businesses.

Since the early 1970s, BEXIMCO has been a pioneer in industrial and business sectors. Currently, it has operations and investments across a wide range of industries including pharmaceuticals, ceramics, renewable energy, textiles, LPG, food & beverage, satellite-to-home television, PPE, media, ICT, real estate, financial services, and travel & tourism.{{Cite web|title=BEXIMCO - Taking Bangladesh to the World|url=https://www.beximco.com/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=beximco.com|language=en}}

In 2005, Beximco Pharma became the first Bangladeshi company to be listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2923555/Bangladeshi-drugs-group-gains-London-foothold-with-Aim-listing.html|title=Bangladeshi drugs group gains London foothold with Aim listing|first=Rosie|last=Murray-West |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 January 2017}} BEXIMCO also opened its first overseas retail outlet with the launch of the Yellow clothing brand in Karachi, Pakistan.{{cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2005/10/22/beximco-textiles-opens-fashion-outlet-yellow-in-pakistan|title=Beximco Textiles opens fashion outlet 'Yellow' in Pakistan|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=11 January 2017}} Yellow has since expanded to several Bangladeshi and Pakistani cities. In 2009, Shinepukur Ceramics opened a showroom in Moscow, Russia.{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-94809|title=Shinepukur Ceramics opens showroom in Moscow|date=29 June 2009|work=The Daily Star|access-date=11 January 2017}} In 2010, the company acquired stakes in several major Bangladeshi businesses, including IFIC Bank and Unique Hotels and Resorts.{{cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/business/2010/06/16/beximco-buys-into-westin|title=Beximco buys into Westin|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=11 January 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-93040|title=Beximco to buy GMG stake for Tk 70cr |work=The Daily Star |date=18 June 2009|access-date=11 January 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/business/2010/11/06/beximco-buys-singer-stake|title=Beximco buys Singer stake |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=11 January 2017}}

In October 2021 BEXIMCO with other two company, Robi and Meghna Petroleum, donated 6.93cr to Labour Welfare Fund support to workers in the formal and informal sectors for accidental deaths, treatment of injuries, incurable diseases, and also for the higher education of their children.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-26|title=Robi, Meghna Petroleum, Beximco donate Tk6.93cr to Labour Welfare Fund|url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/robi-meghna-petroleum-beximco-donate-tk693cr-labour-welfare-fund-321349|access-date=2021-12-06|website=The Business Standard|language=en}}

In 2023, BEXIMCO Group inaugurated Teesta Solar Limited.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=PM opens 200MW solar power plant |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/pm-opens-200mw-solar-power-plant-675786 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}} However, the plant started supplying power to the national grid in December 2022. The plant has 520,000 solar panels at 600 acres of land at Tarapur Union. The plant has the capacity to produce 200MW of electricity. {{Cite web |title=Teesta Solar plant improves power situation further |url=https://businesspostbd.com/power-energy/teesta-solar-plant-improves-power-situation-in-gaibandha |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=businesspostbd.com |language=en}} The plant is located on the bank of the Teesta River.

Its vice chairman Salman F Rahman was serving as a Private Sector Development Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in the past and as Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser at the moment. He's now currently arrested as they were attempting to flee by waterway from the Sadarghat area of the capital on Tuesday, 13th August 2024. They are currently charged as instigators for murder of students during the student rising movement in Dhaka.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq arrested in Dhaka |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/354644/salman-f-rahman-and-anisul-huq-arrested-in-dhaka |archive-date= |access-date=13 Aug 2024 |website=Dhaka Tribune}}

In the wake of political turmoil following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, Salman F Rahman, the founder of Beximco Pharmaceuticals and former private industry and investment adviser to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was imprisoned. The period of instability, marked by a student-led mass uprising in July and August 2024,{{Citation |title=Student–People's uprising |date=2024-11-09 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student%E2%80%93People's_uprising |access-date=2024-11-11 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement |date=2024-11-11 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Bangladesh_quota_reform_movement |access-date=2024-11-11 |language=en}}led to significant financial difficulties for Beximco Group. On September 5, 2024, the High Court of Bangladesh directed the appointment of a receiver to oversee all institutions of Beximco Group. This decision was made to manage the company’s financial issues and ensure the stability of its operations. This decision was upheld by the chamber judge of the Appellate Division on October 1, 2024, with a full hearing scheduled for October 28, 2024. During the hearing, the decision was deferred, and the case was adjourned until November 11, 2024 As the Supreme Court prepared to issue its decision on the receiver’s appointment, Beximco Pharmaceuticals requested a temporary suspension of trading in its shares due to the prevailing uncertainty.https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/360359/beximco-group-chamber-court-upholds-high-courthttps://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/news/market/LSE20241111110129_5424740/further-re-the-temporary-suspension-of-trading

Salman F. Rahman served as the vice chairman of BEXIMCO Group until his arrest on August 13, 2024.{{cite news |title=Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq arrested |url=https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/242464/salman-f-rahman-anisul-huq-arrested |access-date=2 October 2024 |agency=The New Age}} He is currently under investigation for several allegations, including foreign currency smuggling, bank loan embezzlement, illegal wealth accumulation, and share market fraud. On September 19, 2024, the High Court of Bangladesh instructed the Central Bank to appoint a receiver to manage the company's operations and oversee all its assets.{{cite news |title=Appellate Div upholds HC decision to appoint receiver at Beximco |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/beximco-group-appellate-division-upholds-hc-decision-appointing-receiver-maintain-assets |access-date=2 October 2024 |work=The Business Standard |date=1 October 2024 |language=en}}

The High Court of Bangladesh appointed Ruhul Amin on , the Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, as the receiver for Beximco Group. His role is to manage the company’s operations and assets, ensuring stability and continuity during this period of financial difficulty. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur emphasized that the receivership is not meant to stall Beximco but to keep it operational. The central bank’s approval came after several months of financial instability within the conglomerate, which led to unpaid wages and protests by workers. The High Court’s order also includes recovering funds obtained by Salman F Rahman, the founder of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, from different banks and bringing the money back to Bangladesh.https://bdnews24.com/economy/ae330fc3c153https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/bb-appoints-receiver-troubled-beximco-group-3749476

Ruhul Amin’s role as the receiver is to protect the interests of the company’s employees and the country, ensuring proper management of all institutions under Beximco Group.https://en.prothomalo.com/business/jvscoegq83

File:Beximco industry.jpg

• Banking - IFIC Bank
• Ceramic
• Construction
• Electric power generation
• Fashion
• Fisheries
• Food & beverage
• Hotels
• Information technology
• Media
• Petroleum products
• Pharmaceuticals
• PPE
• Private satellite television channel
• Real estate
• Renewable energy
• Sports team & franchise
• Textiles
• Travel & tourism

File:IFIC.jpg. Beximco is the single largest stakeholder in the bank, which is one of Bangladesh's largest.]]

The conglomerate compromises four public traded and eight privately held companies.

• Bangladesh Export Import Co. Ltd. (public){{cite web |url=https://www.beximco.com/ |title=Home |website=BEXIMCO}}
• Beximco Pharma (public)
• Beximco Computers Ltd.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.beximcocomputers.com/about |website=Beximco Computers}}
• Beximco Engineering Ltd.{{cite web |title=About Beximco Engineering Ltd. |url=https://www.beximcoengineering.com/ |website=Beximco Engineering}}
• Beximco Aviation Limited
• Beximco Petroleum Ltd.
• Beximco Power Company Ltd.
• Giga Tech Ltd.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://gigatechltd.com/about-us/ |website=Giga Tech Ltd.}}
• Independent Television
• Shinepukur Ceramics (public)
• Yellow{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://yellowclothing.net/pages/about-us |website=Yellow}}
• IFIC Bank
• BEXTRADE
• Dhaka Dynamites (from 2015-2018)

{{Infobox company

| name = Akash Digital TV

| logo = Akash-logo-blue.svg

| logo_caption =

| logo_alt =

| native_name = আকাশ ডিজিটাল টিভি

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Satellite television

| predecessor = RealVU

| founded = {{start date and age|2016}} (Original RealVU)
{{start date and age|df=y|2019|05|19}} (Akash DTH)

| hq_location_city = Gulshan, Dhaka

| hq_location_country = Bangladesh

| area_served = Bangladesh

| key_people =

| products = Direct broadcast satellite

| owner = BEXIMCO

| parent = Beximco Communications Limited

| website = {{URL|akashdth.com}}

}}

Akash Digital TV or Akash DTH, formally incorporated as RealVU DTH, is the sole direct broadcast satellite television provider to households in Bangladesh,{{cite news |title=Akash Digital TV launches new DTH HD platform |url=https://www.newagebd.net/post/others1/239717/akash-digital-tv-launches-new-dth-hd-platform |work=New Age |date=9 July 2024}} operated by Beximco Communications Limited, and owned by parent company BEXIMCO.{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/organisation-news/press-releases/news/akash-digital-tv-launches-new-dth-hd-platform-3652556 | title=Akash Digital TV launches new DTH HD platform | date=9 July 2024 }} It broadcasts multichannel TV services via satellite Bangabandhu-1. It also offers personal video recording (PVR) capabilities, and HD support.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/akash-dth-slashes-connection-fee-hook-housebound-customers-1925313|title=Beximco launches DTH service Akash|work=The Daily Star|access-date=17 May 2019}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-21 |title=Akash expands television network to former enclaves |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/companies/akash-reaches-its-services-enclave-people-219922 |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}} Akash has monopoly in areas where cable providers can't reach.{{Cite web |title=Akash links rising in semi-urban, rural areas|url=https://www.observerbd.com/news.php?id=287374 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The Daily Observer}}

In 2014, Bangladesh government gave license to operate digital service to RealVu (Now Akash Digital TV or Akash DTH) and Bengal Digital.{{Citation|last=Rahman|first=Harisur|title=The Political Economy, Materiality and the Visceral Experience of Cable Television|date=2020|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31707-2_4|work=Consuming Cultural Hegemony: Bollywood in Bangladesh|pages=79–103|editor-last=Rahman|editor-first=Harisur|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-31707-2_4|isbn=978-3-030-31707-2|s2cid=213544139 |access-date=2022-02-11}}

RealVU DTH began broadcasting in 2016 on ABS-2 at 75 degrees east as a joint venture with GS group.{{cite news|url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadcasting/2016/06/08/bangladeshs-first-dth-operator-shares-plans-market/|title=Bangladesh's First DTH Operator Shares Plans for Market|work=Via Satellite|access-date=8 June 2016}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-06 |title=GS Group launches Bangladesh's first DTH service |url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2016/05/06/gs-group-launches-bangladeshs-first-dth-service/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Digital TV Europe |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=david.nunes |date=2016-05-05 |title=GS Group launched the first DTH service in Bangladesh |url=https://connect-world.com/gs-group-launched-the-first-dth-service-in-bangladesh/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Connect-World |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Bilateral Relations - Embassy of the Russian Federation in the People's Republic of Bangladesh|url=https://bangladesh.mid.ru/bilateral-relations|access-date=2022-02-11|website=bangladesh.mid.ru}} The owner of the provider is BEXIMCO via Beximco Communications Limited.{{cite news|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/05/06/gs-group-launches-first-dth-service-in-bangladesh/|title=GS Group launches first DTH service in Bangladesh|work=BroadbandTV News|access-date=6 May 2016}}{{Cite web |title=BEXIMCO - Taking Bangladesh to the World |url=https://www.beximco.com/ |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=beximco.com |language=en}} The early years of the company were unstable due to technical and financial difficulties. RealVU DTH failed to capture the market, and postponed it services within a years.

In 2017, GS group sold their share in Beximco Communications(holding company of RealVu and now Akash) but continued providing hardware and software for the service.{{Cite web |title=GS Group completes project to create Bangladesh's first satellite pay-TV operator {{!}} Satellite {{!}} News {{!}} Rapid TV News |url=https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2017032546620/gs-group-completes-project-to-create-bangladesh-s-first-satellite-pay-tv-operator.html |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=www.rapidtvnews.com}}

In 2019, they came back with a rebranded name Akash DTH.{{cite news|title=Beximco launches DTH service Akash |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/telecom/beximcos-dth-satellite-service-akash-launch-in-bangladesh-1744630 |work=The Daily Star |date=17 May 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://unb.com.bd/category/Business/beximco-communications-launches-akash-dth/18425|title=Beximco Communications Launches Akash DTH|work=United News of Bangladesh|access-date=16 May 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/akash-dth-slashes-connection-fee-hook-housebound-customers-1925313 | title=Akash DTH slashes connection fee to hook housebound customers | date=5 July 2020 }}

From 2019, Akash DTH has been providing television services to customers using Bangladeshi satellite Bangabandhu-1.{{Cite web |last=ডটকম |first=নিজস্ব প্রতিবেদক বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর |title=বেক্সিমকোর ডিটিএইচ সেবায় বঙ্গবন্ধু স্যাটেলাইটের বাণিজ্যিক যাত্রা শুরু |url=https://bangla.bdnews24.com/business/article1623355.bdnews |access-date=2022-02-11 |website=Bdnews24.com |language=bn}} The company broadcasts more than 120 television stations from around the world, along with exclusive Bangladeshi channels. In 2021, Akash DTH started offering its customers the first PVR in Bangladesh.{{cite news|title=AKASH DTH introduces basic connection package|url=http://www.newagebd.net/article/119774/akash-dth-introduces-basic-connection-package|work=New Age|access-date=23 October 2020}} They also rebranded the name to Akash Digital TV.{{cite news |title=Akash Digital TV launches MyAkash app |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/275570/akash-digital-tv-launches-myakash-app |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=14 Aug 2022}}

In July 2024, Akash Digital TV partnered with Tata Play.{{cite news | url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/tata-play-takes-its-easy-bingeing-solution-to-bangladesh/articleshow/111648320.cms | title=Tata Play takes its easy bingeing solution to Bangladesh | newspaper=The Economic Times | date=11 July 2024 }}{{cite news |title=Akash Digital TV launches new DTH HD platform & Akash Go Companion App featuring Hotstar Specials |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/akash-digital-tv-launches-new-dth-hd-platform-akash-go-companion-app-featuring |work=The Business Standard |date=9 July 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Akash launches DTH HD platform, companion app |url=https://businesspostbd.com/tech/akash-digital-tv-launches-dth-hd-platform-companion-app |work=businesspostbd.com |date=9 July 2024 |language=en}}

The company got a fee waiver of ৳111.56M due to losses from May 2019 to 2020 on grounds of financial losses despite having a monopoly in the DTH market in Bangladesh.{{Cite web|last=Hossain|first=Ismail|title=Akash DTH to get spectrum charge waiver of Tk 111.56m|url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/akash-dth-to-get-spectrum-charge-waiver-of-tk-11156m-1634440697|access-date=2022-02-11|website=The Financial Express|language=en}} But a spectrum charge waiver over the next five years was denied.

Customers of analog cable system were switching to digital cable system such as Bengal Digital, Jadoo Digital and DTH system such as Akash DTH for its superior picture quality.{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Israt Moriom|last2=Quadir|first2=Sabrina|last3=Islam|first3=Sanjida|date=2021-11-19|title=Anticipation & Advancement of DTH Service in Bangladesh|url=https://www.ejbmr.org/index.php/ejbmr/article/view/1150|journal=European Journal of Business and Management Research|language=en|volume=6|issue=6|pages=53–58|doi=10.24018/ejbmr.2021.6.6.1150|s2cid=244483396 |issn=2507-1076|doi-access=free}} While the market penetration remained low, the market share of Akash DTH was growing. Akash DTH used multiple types of marketing such as TV marketing, guerilla marketing, word of mouth and viral marketing.{{Cite journal|last1=Banu|first1=Saira|last2=Tasnim|first2=Jarin|date=2020-06-01|title=Entrepreneurial Marketing in Direct to Home (DTH) Service: The Case of AKASH in Bangladesh|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352555159|journal=Jahangirnagar University Journal of Management Research|volume=3|pages=61–73}}

• Dhaka Dynamites
• Shinepukur Cricket Club
• List of companies of Bangladesh
• Abahani LTD

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.akashdth.com}}

Category:BEXIMCO group

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Dhaka

Category:Mass media companies of Bangladesh

Category:Pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh

Category:Conglomerate companies of Bangladesh

Category:Companies listed on the Chittagong Stock Exchange

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1972

Category:Conglomerate companies established in 1972

Category:1972 establishments in Bangladesh

Category:Companies in the DSE 30 Index