Registration, guidelines for IPTVs soon

The registration for IPTVs will be given soon, and a guideline would also be formulated for this sector, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said yesterday.

"IPTV is a new media. We want it to be explored more. But it should be used for the protection of our culture and heritage," he told reporters after addressing an interministerial meeting on IP registration process at the secretariat.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Post and Telecommunication Secretary Md Afzal Hossain and heads of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Press Information Department, among others, were present in the meeting.

"We are formulating some guidelines. In fact, our aim is to flourish the sector... We are working so that broadcasting media can protect the interest of the country and materialise the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

He said the meeting also discussed the OTT (Over the Top) platform policy and other new media. "We've decided that registration for IPTV would be given soon. But, before this, a guideline would be completed for the sector," said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

The minister said "Digital Bangladesh" was achieved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and directives of Premier's ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The ministry has already received about 600 applications, said the minister, adding, "Now, we have taken an initiative to give registration as scrutinies of many applications have been completed. Other ministries, especially ICT and telecom, are also involved in the process."

Information and Broadcasting Ministry additional secretaries Md Mizan-ul-Alam and Khadiza Begum, PID principal information officer Md Shahenur Mia, BTCL managing director Dr Md Rafiqul Matin, BTRC director Lieutenant Colonel Reza, Information and Broadcasting Ministry joint secretary Md Abdus Sattar Sarker, deputy secretary Rozina Begum, and legal officer Md Saidur Rahman, among others, were present in the meeting.