Visa chaos: Bangladesh’s participation in Cable TV Show Kolkata hits snag

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka shut down early at 2 pm on Wednesday, citing the prevailing “security situation” in the Bangladeshi capital.

“In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC JFP Dhaka will be closed at 2 pm today,” the centre said in a notification, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

The notice added that applicants who had appointments scheduled for visa submissions on Wednesday would not be rescheduled for a later date.

The IVAC at Jamuna Future Park (JFP) is the primary integrated facility handling all Indian visa services in Dhaka.

However, a limited number of delegates could attend the 26th edition of the show after the intervention by the Indian authorities.

"Normally, around 400 Bangladeshi delegates visit the show. This time, visa availability became a major challenge due to various issues," Pawan Jajodia, Chairman Exhibition, Cable TV Equipments Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA) said as quoted by CNN News 18.

The 26th CABLE TV SHOW 2025, one of India's largest trade shows on digital cable television, broadband, and OTT in the SAARC region, was formally inaugurated by Chief Guest, Subhas Agarwala, National Executive Chairman, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Milan Mela, Kolkata, on Wednesday.

The event, on till December 19, 2025, from 11 AM to 6 PM daily, welcomes the public through on-site registration and is expected to garner over 100,000 footfalls across three days.

Organized by the Kolkata-based Cable TV Equipments Traders Manufacturers Association (CTMA), the SHOW marks 30 years of growth alongside Indian television, evolving from modest beginnings to the region's premier digital cable and broadband exhibition.

"It is a proud and emotional moment for Cable TV Show 2025, as we celebrate 30 glorious years of CTMA’s journey with the cable and broadcasting fraternity. From a modest beginning to becoming the largest digital cable and broadband exhibition in the entire SAARC region, this show has grown hand-in-hand with the incredible story of Indian television.

"The CABLE TV SHOW 2025 is going to be the most successful and largest show ever," said Pawan Jajodia, Chairman Exhibition, Cable TV Equipments Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA).

"CTMA has remained the constant voice and backbone of the trade in eastern India for 30 years, helping local cable operators, MSOs, HITS, ISPs and vendors navigate regulatory change, business disruption and new opportunities.

"The Cable TV Show has become a `must visit, must participate’ B2B platform, where relationships are built, deals are signed and ideas are born for the next phase of growth," Jajodia said.