179 news portals to be shut down over fake news: Information Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud today told the parliament that a letter was sent to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications to close down the links and cancel the domain allocation of 179 online news portals that are spreading confusion among people.
The minister also said that the measures were taken as per the instruction of the High Court and on the basis of information provided by the government's intelligence agencies.
In reply to a question from ruling Awami League MP M Abdul Latif, the information minister also told parliament that a process is ongoing to shut down several other online news portals for allegedly spreading false news, rumors, and engaging in immoral activities.
The minister said that a letter was earlier sent to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications on October 5, 2021.
With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair, the question-answer session of today's House sitting was tabled.
In a scripted answer, the information minister said the government has already taken various steps to shut down unregistered online news portals.
Replying to another question of AL MP Benazir Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud said that at present there are 1,126 daily, weekly, and monthly newspapers being published from Dhaka district.
Of these, 499 are daily newspapers, 345 are weekly, and 262 are monthly.
Comments