Nowadays internet is our basic right. So, it is the right of the customer to want to watch live television on the internet or to watch live TV on OTT platform. However, the matter of stopping the ‘Live TV’ running all in a sudden on this platform indeed goes against the market competition law. Similarly, it is very sad that we don’t allow our valid licensors to show live TV on OTT platforms whereas, despite not having a license from the government, Facebook is taking huge revenue from us. And through this, opportunities are being created to smuggle money abroad from the country illegally.
On Saturday, in the meeting entitled “Customer’s right to watch live television on OTT/Internet platform” on the second floor of Hotel Royal-Inn, adjacent to Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha of the capital, the speakers pointed out these matters.
Former Secretary Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh participated in the meeting held under the initiative of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association said, we have been freed from the hand of subjugation, as well as freed economically. Nowadays internet is our basic right. So, it is the right of the customer to want to watch live television on the internet or to watch live TV on OTT platform. It is not advisable to create barriers here. He also said that banning live TV on OTT appears to be a contradiction in terms. To meet the government’s SDG targets, freedom on the internet must be ensured. He called for a speedy solution through discussions with the government and all parties.
ISPAB President Imdadul Haque said that in other countries policies are made first and then customers are made. But in our country, it is the opposite. Here customers are created first then issues are created between licensees then policies are created later. There may be restrictions on the platforms of operators operating inside the country, but can you stop platforms like Netflix, Amazon? 70% of cable traders are operating illegally. They have no legal right to do internet business yet they are doing it. We are not stopping them. But they are interfering in our internet business which is not desirable at all.
He also said that no country in the world has separated the internet from business only, this system is only in Bangladesh and because of this there is a mess of extra cables. Live TV should not have been stopped on OTT platforms. If the problem is not resolved very soon with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting BTRC and other stakeholders, money will go out of the country through illegal channels. There is no way to block access to the internet.
The former director of Bangladesh Competition Commission Md. Khalid Abu Naser highlighted a small information and said that in 2019 the hospitality business in the world was 121 billion US dollars. In 2027, this global market will stand at about 1 thousand 39 billion US dollars. By the year 2030 in Bangladesh, the market will stand at Tk. 1 billion. Therefore, it is important to think about the possibilities by removing the obstacles in this sector very quickly. He said, shutting down the platform in this way without the law is against Section 27 of the Market Competition Act, 2012.
The president of the organization, Mohiuddin Ahmed, presented the main article and said that internet has already been recognized as a fundamental right in 42 countries in the world. On June 3, 2011, these countries recognized the Internet as a fundamental right based on the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on the importance of the Internet. In addition, according to the tradition of the International Telecommunication Union- ITU, the Internet is currently called a fundamental human right. After coming to power in 2018, the current government even set the target of building digital Bangladesh through Vision 2021 in its election manifesto. Now coming to power has set the target of building Smart Bangladesh by 2041. While the government is working to bring internet services to 100 percent of the people, we feel that not allowing 3 crore internet users to watch live TV on OT platforms is a violation of human rights. Currently, the country’s economy, business and social activities are being conducted through the Internet. One of the sources of entertainment is internet. Consumers no longer want to watch television through dish cable. Since everything can be managed using the internet, customers are not interested in purchasing two services. It is very sad that our legitimate licensors are not allowed to show live TV on OTT platform where Facebook is taking huge revenue without government license. We call upon the government to resolve the issue quickly.
Supreme Court lawyer Tanzila Rahman said, I am a customer of Toffee, why can’t I buy premium with money? He thinks it is a kind of civil offence.
Central executive committee member Advocate Sahida Begum, general secretary of the organization Advocate Abu Bakar Siddique and others also spoke at the meeting.
