The government will make registration mandatory before operating any news portal from next year, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday.
“Declaration is a must before publishing any newspaper, and there should be the same rule in the case of news portal operation. News portals must get registered before starting their activities which will help bring discipline in the sector, “said the minister while addressing a dialogue with Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat.
He further added that the government is also taking initiatives to stop broadcasting news from IPTVs.
“We’ll soon take steps against those IPTVs which broadcast news.”
“Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a global reality. It’s new media. Those shouldn’t be shut. But the mushroom growth of IPTVs can’t continue. So, we’ve put in place the registration process for IPTVs,” the minister added.
Responding to a question, Hasan Mahmud said the proposed media workers law is now at the final stage.
“Once it is passed in parliament, the workers of electronic media and even the online ones will get legal protection. There’ll be no retrenchment without any prior notice. There’ll no chance to say ‘Don’t come to office from tomorrow’,” he added.
The minister said cable operators will not be allowed to broadcast foreign channels until they ensure add-free programmes.
He said the cable operators do not pay any tax to the government on their incomes.
“When the cable operating system will be digitalized, then they won’t get any chance to evade tax.”
BSRF President Tapan Biswas and General Secretary Masudul Hoque were present.
