The government has finally moved to monitor online media in the country, especially the online news portals, IP TV, online radio, and news blogs. For this purpose, the information ministry published a gazette notification of “National Online Media Policy 2017” yesterday. It was signed by information ministry secretary Martuza Ahmed. “Of course, we would be monitoring online media from now on, and all the media administrators must adhere to the new policy,” Ahmed told The Independent.

“After its publication, the government has made it mandatory for all to comply with the policy guidelines to avoid any distorted news and views for the greater interest of the country,” he said.

The information secretary, however, said that they would not be able to prosecute anyone for violation of the new policy till the enactment of the proposed Bangladesh Broadcast Law, which was now under scrutiny by the Cabinet Division.

“After enactment of the proposed law, a broadcast commission will be formed to monitor the electronic as well as the online media,” he said.

As per the new policy, all online media must be registered with the Broadcast Commission and mention the educational and financial backgrounds of their editors and staff members for this purpose.

“The online media has to pay the required fee to the commission for obtaining registration after fulfilling all the criteria in this regard,”

the notification says. When asked about giving registration to online news portals, IP TV and online radio, the information secretary said they have selected 1,800 online media portals which are under scrutiny by the relevant agencies.

“As far as I know, the home ministry is yet to complete the inquiry process of the listed online media portals. We’ll take further steps to give registration to the online media after getting no-objection certificates from the home ministry,” he added.

The objectives of the online media policy were to ensure the publication and broadcasting of authentic news to avoid vulgar and anti-social facts and figures; help to curb terrorism, militancy and communalism; ensure free flow of information with neutrality; ensure information flow by upholding freedom of speech and fundamental rights; and provide the required assistant to ensure broadcasting by online media.

Sources said the draft Broadcast Act, 2017, which will regulate online media along with 28 other broadcast activities, would be forwarded to the Cabinet after getting clearance from the Cabinet Division. According to the draft Act, a person may face a maximum penalty of seven years in jail, or a fine of Tk. 5 crore, or both, if anyone runs broadcast without prior permission or license from the authorities concerned.