The government aims to make registration mandatory for operating news portals from 2022, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday.
“A declaration is a must before publishing any newspaper, and there should be the same rule in the case of news portal operations. News portals must be registered before starting their activities, which will help bring discipline in the sector," said the minister.
The minister made the remarks at a Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) dialogue held at the secretariat.
Hasan Mahmud said the government was taking an initiative to stop broadcasting news from IPTVs.
“We’ll soon take steps against IPTVs that broadcast news. Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a global reality. It’s new media. They shouldn’t be shut down, but the mushrooming growth of IPTVs can’t continue. So, we have put in place a registration process for IPTVs,” the minister added.
Responding to a question, Hasan Mahmud said the proposed media workers law is now at the final stage.
Once it is passed in the parliament, the workers of electronic media and even the online ones will get legal protection. There’ll be no retrenchment without any prior notice.
"There’ll be no chance to say 'Don’t come to office from tomorrow',” he added.
The minister said cable operators will not be allowed to broadcast foreign channels until they ensure add-free programs.
He said cable operators do not pay any tax to the government from their incomes. “When the cable operating system is digitized, then they won’t get any chance to evade tax.”
BSRF President Tapan Biswas and General Secretary Masudul Hoque were present at the event.
