The  Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) got 14 more days from the High Court to shut the unregistered news portals. According to the court’s order the deadline for closing all unregistered online news portals was today but BTRC didn’t receive a list of those portals from the Ministry of Information  on time, Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar told UNB. To avoid contempt of court and maintain the deadline BTRC itself made a list and started closing unregistered  news portals today and few registered ones got closed during the process,” said the minister. Read: BTRC shuts 59 unregistered, illegal IPTVs Later the registered news portals were opened and 14 more days were sought from the court to close the unregistered ones,he said. “The Information Minister has said a list of unregistered online news portals will be sent within two or three days from the ministry and BTRC will start the closure process accordingly,” said Mustafa Jabbar. On September 14, a High Court bench ordered to shut all the unregistered online news portals within a week and asked BTRC and Bangladesh press Council to take action accordingly. Read: BTRC reminds users of least-promoted service: 'Do Not Disturb' for promo texts! On August 16, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain 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.