Unregistered online news portals irk information ministry

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The government today reminded unregistered online news portals of their obligation to secure registration from Information and Broadcasting Ministry to run services in line with National Online Mass Media Policy to ensure their accountability.

“There is an obligation on the part of the online news portals to secure registration under National Online Mass Media Policy 2017 (amended in 2020) formulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” an official
statement said.

But, the statement said, it appeared that without securing the registration several such portals were running their sites, only procuring domains from Bangladesh Telecommunications Ltd (BTCL).

“This, in most cases, results in dissemination of wrong, untrue and baseless information and news, misleading the public mind and affecting Bangladesh’s image abroad,” the statement said.

It added: “One must obtain registration from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to publish or run online news portals in line with the (said) policy.” (BSS)