Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said online versions of newspapers or news portals are not legally allowed to broadcast talk shows and bulletins. The minister highlighted the gazette guideline in this regard on Sunday to journalists during a meeting at the ministry. “Recently Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) leaders brought the matter to our attention that online versions of some newspapers and online portals are publishing talk shows and news bulletins for which they don’t have any approval," he said replying to the questions of journalists. Also read: Journo Fazle Elahi to get justice: Hasan Mahmud “We have skimmed through the laws in this regard and found that they cannot publish any such contents according to the subsection 2,4, and 6 of section two of National Online Mass Media Policy 2017,” said Hasan Mahmud. "In the digital age, providing relevant video clips with news is not a violation of the rules, but the policy does not approve of broadcasting talk shows or news bulletins at all," he said. "The online versions of the newspaper were registered without any investigation on the condition that the news published in the newspaper would be published online, which should not be different," he said. Also read: Hasan trashes RSF report on press freedom as malicious & unacceptable If ATCO gives a written objection in this regard, we will inform the concerned authorities by mentioning the sections and subsections of the law, said the minister.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the closure of all unregistered online news portals and asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Bangladesh Press Council to take action in this regard within a week. A HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after hearing a supplementary petition that originated from the recent death of a 21-year-old woman by suicide followed by a wave of unacceptable news coverage in the media, especially in online news portals. Advocate Rashida Chowdhury Nilu and Zarin Rahman stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Nauroz Mohammad RusselChowdhury represented the state. Also read: Private school, college, madrasa teachers can’t be suspended for above 6 months: HC After today’s order Advocate Rashida told reporters a legal notice was served to the authorities concerned on May 5 seeking steps to enact a code of ethics for the news media. The notice was served to the secretary to the information and broadcasting ministry, BTRC chairman and Bangladesh Press Council chairman but no response was received as yet. Later Advocate Zarin Rahman and Rashida Chowdhury Nilu filed writ petition. According to the writ a case has recently been filed under section 306 over instigation to suicide following the recovery of the body of a 21-year old woman. The way the country’s media, especially the online news portals covered the incident has been unacceptable. But the BTRC and Bangladesh Press Council did not take any step in this regard, said the petition. Besides, the BTRC is unable to take any step about unauthorized news portals. So registration is needed for those news portals, the petitioner sought. Also read: Medical equipment lying packed at 16 hospitals; HC orders probe On August 16, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives should not be given to shut down the unauthorized news portals. The HC also sought to know why the directives should not be given to take steps in forming a ‘Broadcasting Commission’ as per the National Broadcasting Policy-2014.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday warned that stringent measures will be taken against unregistered online news portals soon. “Online portals are being launched every now and then by anyone and everyone which has become a matter of great headache for all concerned,” he said. “We have recognised the authentic ones and some have been shut down,” he said adding that registration process is still going on. “After registering a few more, we will start taking actions against the unregistered ones,” the minister said. Also read: Govt. to permit some IPTVs this month, says Hasan Mahmud He said that the same procedure will be followed for IPTVs. He added that no IPTVs around the world are allowed to publish news. “Even the personnel of registered IPTVs won’t be able to carry press cards like reporters,” he said. The minister came up with this information while speaking at an event of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association on Wednesday. Also read: Hasan Mahmud warns of clampdown on IP TVs A portal of the organisation, crabnewsbd.com was launched at the event, Earlier on Aug 2, Hasan said approvals will be given to some Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTV) within a month. “We did not give any permission to any IPTV yet. We have asked the authorities concerned to apply for registration and some 600 applications have been submitted. We will give approval of some IPTV within this month after scrutiny,” he said.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that the government will take action against fake online news portals shortly after completing the registration process.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said the online versions of National Daily Newspapers will get priority in the registration of online news portals.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the government directive to all national dailies and TV channels for getting their respective online news portals registered separately.  

Newspapers, television channels and radio stations will need to be registered for running their online news portals as per the draft amendment of online media policy that was approval at the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The government is set to release the list of online news portals that have been selected for getting registered after a rigorous verification process.