Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has shut 59 unregistered and illegal Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTVs ). The commission in a notification issued Sunday said those IPTVs have no connection with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) approved for IP-based data service. IPTV is the process through which contents published in television are broadcast using internet protocol network. BRTC only allows licensed ISP institutions to provide IP-based data services like- streaming service, IP-TV , video-on-demand, said the notice. Read: Action against unregistered news portals, IPTVs soon, says Hasan Mahmud The approved ISP operators are allowed to show the internet broadcast of the satellite TV channels approved by the information ministry to only their customers. However, the agreement, approval or release to broadcast a particular channel, content or program has to be collected from the concerned institutions, said the BTRC. Recently some unscrupulous traders are illegally buying domains and showing IPTV through Facebook, YouTube channels which violates the Telecommunication Act, said the notice.

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that action will be taken soon against unregulated and unauthorized Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTV) across the country. The minister was responding to a question from reporters at his official residence in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. “Some IP TVs are often involved in spreading rumors, serving false information and engaging in hoaxes. Again, it is seen that before getting the approval, some people have opened offices like television channels, appointing district representatives. All these issues need to be brought into a regulation,” said Dr Mahmud. Read: Hasan Mahmud urges BNP to accept truth about its founder Ziaur Rahman After the ministry called for registration, more than five hundred applications were submitted. Only the ones with quality would be sorted out and given approval, the Minister said. During his conversation with the reporters, the Information Minister in reference to Helena Jahangir, director of Joyjatra IPTV, that it was not appropriate for such a person to enter the party's sub-committee. Read: Connection between Bangladeshis and Indians ‘indelible’: Hasan Mahmud Action was being taken against her and the authority would look into the allegations about her IPTV; if found to be true, action will be taken, he said.