United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in its latest crackdown on online gambling and betting has blocked 331 websites. On September 24, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said the government had permanently blocked 6,000 gambling sites. In a notice issued Monday, the telecom regulator BTRC said it also reported gambling and betting apps and links to Google, Facebook, and YouTube for blocking. Read BTRC: Compensation for call drops from Oct 1 "Google blocked 14 gambling-related apps in Bangladesh after receiving more than 150 complaints. The multinational technology company is taking steps to review the other complaints," the telecom watchdog said. The BTRC reported 27 links to Facebook and 69 to YouTube for gambling and betting lessons. The two social media giants blocked 17 links each and are reviewing the rest. Credit or debit cards are required to buy game chips. As it has become easier to get credit or debit cards in Bangladesh, many have turned to online gambling or betting. Taking advantage of this, criminal groups are siphoning off crores of taka from Bangladesh, the BTRC said. Read BTRC launches new unlimited data packages The country's laws do not allow gambling and betting in Bangladesh. However, completing registration through credit or debit cards or mobile financial services, many are getting involved in online gambling or betting through diverse apps or websites during domestic or international football, cricket, tennis, and other matches after.  Shutting down the gambling and betting websites in Bangladesh, BTRC aims to continue Bangladesh government's sucess in removing harmful contents from the virtual world.

The disciplinary committee of Bangladesh Football  Federation (BFF) has decided to punish two metropolis clubs--Uttar Baridhara Club and Kawran Bazar Progati Sangha --for their involvement in live betting, spot fixing, match manipulation and online betting. The decision was taken at a committee meeting held on Thursday at the BFF office with committee chairman Mesbahuddin in the chair. The committee have decided to demote Uttar Baridhara Club, (recently relegated from BPL Football) two steps down to the 2nd division league for two years in addition to a  fine of Tk 10 lakh. Five players of Uttar Baridhara - Saiful Islam Khan,  Arif Khan Joy, Saiddoston Fozilov, Rashed Hossain Biplob and Sayed Mohamed Abdel Rahim- have been banned for two years. Karwan Bazar Pragati Sangha, a BCL Club,  have also  been demoted two steps down to the 3rd division league for two years and fined Tk 10 lakh. Six players of the club have been banned for two years and three club officials banned for five-years. Besides, manager of Saif SC Youth team Eskaton Mirza has been banned for life time. Earlier, FIFA banned BPL Football Club Arambagh KS for one and half year for their involvement in match fixing. Also read: BFF picks 27 players for FIFA friendlies against Cambodia, Nepal

Law enforcers have arrested 89 people from different areas in three upazilas of the district for betting on Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) matches.