Sociable media, OTT platform contents to be brought under laws, tax: Minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said foreign community media, publicising of contents and advertisements on Over the Top (OTT) program and other related things would be brought under tax net and modern regulations.
"Different contents incorporating entertainment have already been streaming through the use of such platforms around the world. It is happening inside our country also. But we observed that lots of allegations were elevated against screening of uncensored contents. The government can be not getting tax properly," he said.
The info minister was talking to reporters before joining an inter-ministerial meeting through video conference from the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat here.
Articles and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar, State Minister for Facts Dr Md Murad Hasan, Articles and Telecommunication SecretaryMd Nur-ur-Rahman, Bangladesh Satellite Provider Chairman Shahjahan Mahmud and BTRC Chairman Md Jahurul Haque, amongst others, joined the meeting.
Hasan termed the community media, OTT platform and publishing different sound and video contents due to growing reality of today's era.
He said the OTT and community media platforms are reaching to every persons through mobile phone. Consequently, there are prospects to build the contemporary society and to create instability in the society as well, he added.
"Earlier, we saw tries to spread rumours also to create communal riots through the use of social media platforms. At the same time, adverse reactions were made among the youths and juveniles. We should use these medium correctly," said Hasan.
He said the info ministry asked for description from GrameenPhone and Robi. Of them, there is no proper answer in the GrameenPhone's description while Robi is planning its response, he added.
Hasan said 'Digital Bangladesh' isn't a fantasy today, it really is now a fact beneath the supervision of Prime Minister's Information and Connection Technology Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy and the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
