The Cabinet has approved the draft of National Online Mass Media Guideline keeping the provision that the country's online news media will be regulated by the National Broadcast Commission.
The draft was approved in a regular Cabinet meeting at parliament on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in chair.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said though around 1,800 online media had applied for registration with the Press Information Department, they would be regulated by the broadcast commission.
“The existing print or electronic media who have already acquired the approval under the Press and Publication Act 1973 will not need any new approval, even if the media organisation has an online version,” he said. “However, the media authorities are to inform the commission about their online versions. If any online media organisation violates the guidelines or human rights, the victims can file a complaint to the commission and it will take actions accordingly.”
In reply to a query, the cabinet secretary said until the National Broadcast Commission was formed, online media would be regulated as per the existing rules.
Read: Commission to monitor online mass media
The draft also speaks of preserving the history of the Liberation War when publicising, publishing and broadcasting the information or data. It also directs running news that fully respects all religions.
Local dialects can be used in the news but not as a joke. Apart from running reports on regional cultures, the news media will also have to present the culture of ethnic minorities.
Incoherent, misleading and false information cannot be used in news published or run by online media.
Any information and data that violate The Censorship of Films Act, 1963, the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, copyright, trademarks, patents design, Geographical Indication Act and other laws cannot be published.