Registration of online news portals begins: info minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that the long-awaited registration of online news portals began today and called upon media outlets to portray positive aspects of the country.
"The registration of online news portals is a continuous process. The online news portals which have received no objections from the government will be allowed for initial registration. And a list would be published on the ministry's website," he said.
The information minister was talking to journalists at a briefing at the seminar room of the information ministry at Secretariat.
Information Secretary Kamrun Nahar, Joint Secretary SM Mahfuzul Haque and senior officials of the ministry, among others, were present in the programme.
The information minister said names of many established online news portals may not appear in the list that will be uploaded on the website today. "But, there are no negative reports against those portals. Actually, we didn't get reports about those news portals till now. So, there is reason for worry and disappointment. Registrations would be given in phases after getting no objection reports," he added.
Hasan said many news portals often publish wrong and untrue news. "At the same time, we also see that some online news portals have deliberately engaged in spreading rumors, assassinating characters and inciting communal tensions. The investigation is being held keeping all these issues in view," he added.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said steps would be taken against those news portals which have 'negative reports' and the ministry is giving registration to the online news portals based on the reports.
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