News portals involved in unethical practices: Action to be taken after getting lists, BTRC to HC
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) today told the High Court that it will take action against news portals, which are involved in unethical practices after getting a list from the information ministry.
BTRC has sent a letter on September 22 to the information ministry, seeking lists of all registered and unregistered news portals, but it (BTRC) is yet to receive the list from the ministry, BTRC's lawyer Farzana Sharmin told the HC during hearing a writ petition.
The lawyer said her client (BTRC) will take necessary steps after getting their lists from the information ministry.
She also prayed for two weeks' time from the HC for complying with its earlier directive.
The bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah fixed October 25 for hearing and passing further order on the petition.
Following the same petition, the HC bench on September directed the government to ban all unregistered news portals.
It has also ruled that even if any registered news portal is involved in unethical practices like spreading disinformation, the government can ban its operation.
"The respondents [chairpersons of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and Bangladesh Press Council] are directed to take immediate steps to ban all unregistered news portals except for news portals described in Annexure- 'B' to the writ petition [92 registered news portals] within seven days from the receipt of the order copy.
The HC bench delivered the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers Rasida Chowdhury Nilu and Zaren Rahman seeking necessary directives from the court on this issue.
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