Bangladesh Internet Freedom Initiative Working Group (BIFIWG) has urged Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI) to extend time to review the draft rules to protect people’s rights on the internet.
The draft “Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms” (Draft Regulations) and ‘‘Over the Top (OTT) Content-Based Service Delivery and Governance Policy (Draft)’’, published respectively on the websites of the BTRC and ministry need in-depth evaluation, the group said in a statement on Monday.
“We would like to carry out a thorough review of the drafts to see whether the proposed legal instruments have any deleterious impact on the constitutional rights of the users of digital public space,” it reads.
“We implore the authorities to further extend the period of consultation, at least another eight weeks, to enable meaningful and in-depth analysis and concrete feedback from the relevant stakeholders ensuring their inclusive participation.”
To protect people’s rights, freedom, and to enable a secure internet in Bangladesh BIFIWG urged the concerned authorities to facilitate the users of the digital public space to enjoy constitutional rights and experience the freedom of expression.
A guideline for New Media (including digital media, social media), OTT Platform should be there to respect, protect and promote users’ rights in the digital space through embracing the tenets of Fourth Industrial Revolutions, the press release mentioned.
BIFIWG also recalled the commitment made by the current ruling party during a national election in 2008, about transforming Bangladesh into “Digital Bangladesh” as well as urged the government to establish a comprehensive, transparent digital governance system.
BIFIWG is a group of experts that strives to address the salient issues of citizens’ constitutional, legal and moral rights to enjoy the rights guaranteed by the laws of Bangladesh.
The group works through strategic advocacy, campaign, legal analysis of existing national legal frameworks, and by providing recommendations for legal reform of government policies and practices aimed at fostering and advancing internet freedom in the country.
