HC orders to stop all harmful online games

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The High Court (HC) today ordered to stop all harmful games from online platforms including PUBG and Free Fire immediately, BSS reports.

A virtual HC division bench comprising Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order.

At the same time, the court has issued a rule asking why all types of online games and apps like Tiktok, Bigo Live, PUBG, Free Fire Games and Likee will not be banned from all online platforms.

Concerned parties have been asked to respond to the rule within 10 days.

Barrister Md Humayun Kabir Pallab and Barrister Md Kausar of the Supreme Court, filed the writ petition. Deputy Attorney General Nowroj Md Rasel appeared on behalf of the state.

Barrister Humayun told BSS, “The court ordered immediate ban on all harmful games from the online platform, including PUBG, Free Fire, for three months. The BTRC and others concerned have been asked to implement the order.”

On June 19, legal notices were sent to stop all kinds of online games and apps such as Tiktok, Bigo Live, PUBG, and Free Fire. The writ petition was filed on June 24 last seeking immediate closure of all online games and apps from all online platforms.

10 persons including the Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications, Chairman of BTRC, Education Secretary, Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Health Secretary and IG of Police were made respondents in the petition.

The notice said that social values, education, culture are being destroyed and future generations are becoming incompetent and addicted to games by passing too much time playing these games.

“The children and teenagers of the country are engaging themselves in various immoral activities, getting involved with crime and creating juvenile gang culture across the country using apps like TickTock and Likee”, the notice added.

The TickTock followers, it said, are being engaged in different immoral entertainment in the name of pool party in various secret places.

The notice mentioned that it is important to form a monitoring team to watch children’s addiction to such games and to supervise online games that are useful and appropriate for children from time to time.

At the same time, the notice requested to form a monitoring, evaluation and recommendation committee to observe all these issues and to recommend online games that are suitable for the children.

Recently, a Nepalese court has banned PUBG stating its violent content having negative impact on youngsters.

For the same reason, the game was banned in Gujarat, India. In Bangladesh the PUBG was temporarily closed but later reopened.