Media under Fire for Promoting Gambling Ads
Mainstream media outlets in Bangladesh are allegedly promoting gambling advertisements and unsafe content, a concern raised by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Telecommunications and Information Technology. He termed the trend as a serious threat to the nation.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 21, at a meeting titled “Measures to Prevent Online Gambling,” held at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, Taiyeb expressed disappointment over the growing involvement of media houses in such activities.
The meeting was chaired by BTRC Chairman Emdadul Bari and attended by ICT Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury, along with senior officials from the ministry and the commission.
“Almost all media outlets are now getting involved in promoting unsafe content and gambling advertisements,” said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb. “The main reason behind this is that these ads have become a major source of their revenue.”
He further alleged that several mainstream media organizations, including Daily Jugantor, Daily Bhorer Kagoj, Jago News, and Bangladesh Times, are engaged in broadcasting gambling-related advertisements.
Highlighting the government’s firm stance against online gambling, Taiyeb stated, “Gambling is no longer just a law and order issue; it has become a cause of social and moral degradation. If the media patronizes it, that poses a grave threat to the nation.”
