whose only appeal was that of cheap melodrama. After a drastic decline in the 2000s, the Bangladeshi film industry tried to bounce back after 2006–07. With the help of the Bangladeshi Government and the emergence of big production companies, the Bangladeshi film industry started growing slowly. Among the successful films that released in the 2000s are Ammajan, Premer Taj Mahal, Wrong Number, Shasti, Shyamol Chhaya, Hridoyer Kotha, Daruchini Dwip, Monpura, Priya Amar Priya, Koti Takar Kabin, Chacchu, Khairun Sundori, Amar Praner Swami, Pitar Ason, Tumi Swapno Tumi Shadhona, Mone Prane Acho Tumi, Amar Shopno Tumi, Bolbo Kotha Bashor Ghore, among others. Besides critically acclaimed films like Kittonkhola, Lalsalu, Hason Raja, Matir Moyna, Bachelor, Joyjatra, Hajar Bachhor Dhore, Ghani and Chandragrohon were produced in this decade. Most of the successful films during this period starred Manna (until his death in 2008) followed by Shakib Khan, Riaz, and Ferdous Ahmed. Leading female actors included Moushumi, Shabnur, Popy and Champa. Television Bangladesh Television (BTV) was the sole television broadcaster in Bangladesh until the launch of ATN Bangla on satellite television in 1997, and Ekushey Television on terrestrial in 2000. But as competition grew over the years, BTV declined and stagnated, and privately owned television channels gained more popularity among locals. Besides a host of international channels were now available to Bangladeshi television audience. This led to a huge transformation in the taste and behaviour of the television viewership. Viewers were no longer constrained for options, and the program producers had to face steep competition to capture the attention of the audience. Most notable among the private channels was Ekushey Television (ETV) which officially began transmissions on 14 April 2000, as the country's first privately owned terrestrial television network, and then immediately gained widespread popularity. It had also helped with the prevention of the massive spread of Indian television channels in the country. Some of Ekushey's popular programs include Mukto Khabor, Bandhan, and Deshjure. Ekushey's news programming has also been considered to be unbiased and reliable. Two other older private channels namely ATN Bangla and Channel i also started telecasting news and news based program from the beginning of the decade. In March 2002, Ekushey Television was accused by the BNP-led government of Bangladesh for airing news reports against them and was also declared at fault by the High Court for operating under an illegal license, and hence was shut down on 29 August