The government has taken initiative to formulate policies for the protection of the country’s culture and OTT platforms, said Dr. Hassan Mahmud, Information and Broadcasting Minister and Joint General Secretary of the ruling party- Awami League. This was stated by the Minister while exchanging views with the stakeholders of OTT platform in the meeting room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on Saturday (March 14).
“The main purpose of this policy is to ensure that anything that conflicts with our culture, heritage and values does not go to the OTT platform and does not upload anything that could mislead our society and the new generation,” he said. “Another objective is to protect the country’s platforms from the aggression of foreign OTT platforms. At the same time, our government wants this platform and through it our entertainment and creativity to be further developed.”
OTT platform is not a political issue. Dr. Hassan said, “Why do some people drag it into politics! Surprisingly, Mr. Mirza Fakhrul has confused the OTT platform with social media and mass media. I am ashamed to see that the secretary general of such a big party who has also served as a minister has confused them. I think his advisors should have given the right advice and he also needed to speak knowingly. But he has tried to make it a political issue. It is never appropriate to bring politics in everything.”
Addressing the OTT platform stakeholders, the Minister said, “Thank you for your support to our initiative. This policy is for you. We’ve seen in the past that, something that OTT has done to our masses and the younger generation, that hurt our values, and have been lot closer to pornography, which has been widely criticized in the press. Then there was the demand for a policy. Several OTT platforms have already started operations in the country and are slowly doing well. This is a big platform, it is not possible to censor every piece of content. That is why we are making a policy in consultation with the stakeholders, the draft has been given on the website, more opinions are being taken. Then it will be finalized.
SM Harun Ar Rashid, president of Natyakar Sangha, said, “What I am writing is my art-culture, my history. Policies are needed to strengthen the place of historical heritage, sense of tradition and sense of responsibility. Salahuddin Lavlu, President of the Directors Guild, said: That is why there is a need for a national policy.
Sajjad Hossain Dodul, vice-president of the Television and Digital Producers Association, said: ‘As discipline is very important in professional places. No one else has anything to say about it, we are professionals here. My father, my brother, my wife and I are also involved in this profession. We didn’t tell anyone to say anything. We know how to protest in a fare manner, if we really have a problem.’
SM Kamruzzaman Sagar, general secretary of the Directors Guild, said, “There is no scope to politicize the OTT platform. It is a modern technology entertainment medium. I myself, on behalf of the organization, have been involved in drafting the policy and have been working with the government. Thanks to the government for drafting with the partners. “No matter what anyone says, there is no need for policy – it is absurd. Of course, there is a need for that, ”said SA Haque Alik, a filmmaker-director and lyricist and member of the Directors Guild. Telepab member and filmmaker Sardar Saniat Hossain hoped that the government would continue its support for further development of the OTT platform by bringing it under the policy.
At the end of the discussion two books written by M Nazrul Islam, published by ‘Subarna’, ‘Politics of Bangladesh and Bangabandhu family’; and ‘Joy Bangla National Slogan – Supreme Court Judgment and Background’ edited by lawyer Dr. Bashir Ahmed, published by Jhumjhumi Publications were unveiled by the Information Minister. He congratulated the authors and publishers for the publications. Additional Secretary of the Ministry Khadija Begum, Head of Subarna Publications Shahreen Haque, Deputy Attorney General Advocate Gias Uddin and ASM Nazmul Haque, Writer Mostafa Kamal Pasha were present on the occasion.