News Cannot Be Broadcast on IPTV-YouTube: Info Minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud said no one would be able to broadcast news through Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and YouTube channels.

He said that according to the broadcasting policy, no one can serve news through any IPTV or YouTube channel. This is against our broadcasting policy. That broadcasting policy has been approved by our cabinet.

He added that it is seen that news is still being served in some places through IPTV. Regular news bulletins are served there. News bulletins are also being disseminated through YouTube channels. Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to keep an eye on the matter.

He made the remarks at a press briefing after the DC's meeting with the Information Ministry at the Deputy Commissioner (DC) conference here at noon on Thursday (January 20).

The information minister said the deputy commissioners are the lifeblood of the field administration. Government decisions are implemented in the field through the Deputy Commissioners. That is why the Deputy Commissioners Conference is very important.

He said that in the session that I ended a little earlier, there was a lot of discussions, especially on social media. You know, about 90 million people in the country use social media, it is constantly increasing.

Referring to social media as a big field of propaganda as well as propaganda or rumor-mongering, Hasan Mahmud said, "Looking at the statistics of the last 7-8 years, it is clear that all the accidents that have taken place in the country have been rumored and spread on purpose."

"We have raised the issue with the deputy commissioners," he said. It is often seen that misleading news is spread. They spread through social media and created chaos in the country. Those issues have been raised with the DCs. They should be active in these matters and take effective measures.

Regarding the news broadcast on IPTV-YouTube, the Information Minister said, "We have said that to the Deputy Commissioners." Many IPTV shows that many local popular people know them and they are broadcasting news regularly. They can't do that. We have told the Deputy Commissioners that they cannot take effective action in this regard as per the broadcasting policy.

Thanking the Deputy Commissioners as the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, he said, "I thank them for the way they have run the mobile court in implementing Cleanfeed since October last year." I still told them to keep an eye on it.

He further said that cable operators, in particular, should not broadcast any program or advertisement on television as a local channel. The Deputy Commissioners should keep an eye on those issues.