HC directs closure of unregistered portals, rumour-spreading pages

The High Court (HC) has directed action against unregistered online news portals operating in the country and pages involved in spreading rumours, false and misleading information on social media.

A bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the directive, in response to a writ petition filed by lawyer SM Zulfikar Ali Junu, chairman of the National Lawyers Council on Tuesday (September 15). The chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been asked to implement the directive.

Lawyer SM Zulfikar Ali Junu himself conducted the hearing on behalf of the writ. He later confirmed the matter of the order.

Lawyer Junu said that along with directing the closure of unregistered portals and rumour-spreading pages, the High Court has also issued a rule.

In the rule, the concerned authorities have been asked to explain why their inaction should not be declared without lawful authority.