BGL Overseas, a recruiting agency based in Dhaka, has reported a "big growth in its engagement with the job seekers" after joining "Channel," a free broadcast platform for service and information introduced by popular instant messaging app imo. The agency is involved in the recruitment and supply of workers from Bangladesh to different companies based in the Middle East and Asia. Abdullah Al Mamun, marketing manager of BGL, decided to connect with imo Channel to help the agency perform better. BGL joined Channel this May to try it and tap into more potential candidates. After the agency was officially verified by the imo team, its account got customised menus, enabling potential clients to contact it conveniently. More importantly, BGL services got a huge traffic boost from imo. Within only two months, the number of closed deals of Mamun increased by around 50 percent as there was a huge boost in the number of BGL's followers, which reached nearly 13,000. Read: Grooming Tips for Professionals: Show up gracefully at the workplace On average, the number of migrant workers who reach out to BGL through Channel every day is around 50, much more efficient than other digital platforms, according to a media statement. Mamun said: "We were looking for a good platform to connect to our target clients directly. Ever since we connected with imo Channel, we witnessed a significant rise in our engagement with the job seekers, because our target clients are already on the platform and could call us directly on imo without fees and not through other agents, which has helped us experience meteoric growth in terms of business." Currently, there are huge opportunities for Bangladeshis to work overseas, but it often remains unexplored owing to a lack of proper information. Channel has "proved to be a powerful tool in this regard." Currently, on imo, there are around 10 million Bangladeshi users who work in the Middle East. Migrant workers can get relevant and authorised information about overseas job opportunities, salary, employers, companies, job requirements and other necessary details through imo Channel.

Spectators in Bangladesh will now be able to watch the Test match between the Tigers and the Caribbeans live on Facebook, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said Saturday. The ongoing match in Antigua can be watched through the official Facebook page of the BCB – Bangladesh Cricket: The Tigers. Read: BCB eyes to vaccinate domestic cricketers ahead of new season However, the BCB did not confirm if the cricket fans can watch all the two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is the same way. No Bangladeshi television channel showed interest in broadcasting the Test series, despite three channels masquerading as specialised sports broadcasters (T Sports, GTV, Channel 9). It was the first time since 2001 that a Test match involving Bangladesh wasn't being broadcast in the country. The only legal way to watch the series was the website of the ICC with a $2 subscription. So, the new initiative of the BCB came as a relief for many fans who were unable to watch the match live on television.

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.

China’s government banned effeminate men on TV and told broadcasters Thursday to promote “revolutionary culture,” broadening a campaign to tighten control over business and society and enforce official morality. President Xi Jinping has called for a “national rejuvenation,” with tighter Communist Party control of business, education, culture and religion. Companies and the public are under increasing pressure to align with its vision for a more powerful China and healthier society. The party has reduced children’s access to online games and is trying to discourage what it sees as unhealthy attention to celebrities. Also read: China fines tech giants for content exploiting children Broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics,” the National Radio and TV Administration said, using an insulting slang term for effeminate men — “niang pao,” or literally, “girlie guns.” That reflects official concern that Chinese pop stars, influenced by the sleek, fashionable look of some South Korean and Japanese singers and actors, are failing to encourage China’s young men to be masculine enough. Broadcasters should avoid promoting “vulgar internet celebrities” and admiration of wealth and celebrity, the regulator said. Instead, programs should “vigorously promote excellent Chinese traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture.” Xi’s government also is tightening control over Chinese internet industries. Also read: China punishes 30 officials for pandemic failing It has launched anti-monopoly, data security and other enforcement actions at companies including games and social media provider Tencent Holding and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group that the ruling party worries are too big and independent. Rules that took effect Wednesday limit anyone under 18 to three hours per week of online games and prohibit play on school days. Game developers already were required to submit new titles for government approval before they could be released. Officials have called on them to add nationalistic themes. The party also is tightening control over celebrities. Broadcasters should avoid performers who “violate public order” or have “lost morality,” the regulator said. Programs about the children of celebrities also are banned. On Saturday, microblog platform Weibo Corp. suspended thousands of accounts for fan clubs and entertainment news. A popular actress, Zhao Wei, has disappeared from streaming platforms without explanation. Her name has been removed from credits of movies and TV programs. Thursday’s order told broadcasters to limit pay for performers and to avoid contract terms that might help them evade taxes. Another actress, Zheng Shuang, was fined 299 million yuan ($46 million) last week on tax evasion charges in a warning to celebrities to be positive role models.