BTRC postpones shutting down unregistered news portals: minister

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Tuesday said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has temporarily postponed the process of shutting down unregistered news portals. 

"The BTRC started the process of shutting down unregistered news portals following its list as today was the last day for closing the portals as per the High Court order. But as there are some errors in the list, the process has temporarily been suspended," he told BSS. 

Noting that the BTRC has prayed for extending the time to the High Court for complying with its earlier directives, Jabbar said, "We sought lists of all registered and unregistered news portals from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Actions will be taken against the news portals according to these lists".

On September 14, the High Court ordered authorities concerned to shut down all the unregistered online news portals in the country.

An HC division bench comprising Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after holding a hearing on a supplementary plea filed in the regard. 

The court asked the BTRC Chairman and Bangladesh Press Council (BPC) chairmen to execute the order within seven days of getting the copy of the order.

Source: BSS