Friday, April 26, 2024
The High Court today directed authorities concerned to submit within the next three months the draft copy of a policy to control OTT (over-the-top) platforms from publishing immoral and reprehensible video contents and films.
The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order on Monday.
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Rakib confirmed the matter to the media.
Advocate Tanvir Ahmed was present in favour of the writ petition while BTRC lawyer Barrister Khandaker Reza-E-Rakib was also present before the court.
Earlier on September 8, 2020, the High Court issued a rule seeking an explanation as to why the government's inaction in removing all immoral and reprehensible video contents and films from the country’s streaming platforms should not be declared illegal.
The same HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by the Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Tanvir Ahmed in this regard.
The High Court also issued a rule asking why regulation should not be enacted in this regard.
Earlier on July 15 last year, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to remove all immoral and reprehensible video contents and films from the country’s streaming platforms within seven days.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after virtually hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.
Besides, the High Court also asked the BTRC to submit a report on how the government collects revenue from the OTT platforms within a month.
Earlier, Tanvir Ahmed filed a writ petition with the High Court on July 12 last year seeking necessary order in this regard.
According to the writ petition, several OTT (over-the-top) services operating in the country are streaming inappropriate contents which cause deterioration in the moral values of the younger generation.
A total of eight individuals were made respondents for this writ that included, secretaries from the Post and Telecommunications Division, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Information, as well as the chairman of BTRC and inspector general of police (IGP).
Earlier on June 14, 2020, a legal notice was issued seeking removal of inappropriate contents from streaming sites in Bangladesh within 24 hours.
The lawyer sent a legal notice concerning government offices seeking removal of such content from all the streaming services of the country.
Later, Tanvir Ahmed filed a writ with the High Court as no response or reply came forth from the recipients of the legal notice.
nh/teb
