IFI Working Group wants extension of deadline for commenting on digital media policy

The  Internet Freedom Initiative Bangladesh- IFI Working Group has called on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to extend the deadline for commenting on the proposed regulations and policies for digital, social media and OTT platforms. They requested the authorities to extend the period of observation, opinion and recommendation on the two drafts by at least eight more weeks to ensure meaningful and in-depth engagement with the stakeholders. On Monday, February 3, 2022, the BTRC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's website published a draft of the Digital, Social Media and OTT Platform Regulation, and a draft of the OTT Content-Based Services Provision and Management Policy, respectively, the Working Group said in a statement. The Working Group opines that these two drafts need to be thoroughly evaluated. The working group wants to thoroughly review the draft regulations and policies to examine whether the proposed legal provisions will have any detrimental effect on the constitutional rights of digital public space users. Note that the revised deadline for BTRC to submit comments on the proposed draft regulation was March 5, 2022. On the other hand, the revised deadline for giving feedback on the draft policy of the Ministry of Information is ending today, March 7, 2022. The statement further said that in order to make the 'Digital Bangladesh' concept meaningful by embracing the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there should be a guideline for new media (including digital media and social media) OTT platform that will respect, protect and promote the rights of citizens in digital space. The working group called on the BTRC and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to protect the rights and freedoms of the people and to introduce an open, unhindered and secure internet in Bangladesh. He also requested the concerned authorities to ensure that the users of digital public space enjoy their constitutional rights, experience freedom of expression and have access to information guaranteed by the law of Bangladesh. The statement said the working group would like to recall the promise made by the current ruling party during the 2008 national elections to transform Bangladesh into a truly 'digital Bangladesh'. At the same time, he called on the government to establish a comprehensive, transparent and accountable national system to meet the needs of its citizens, in line with international law and norms. Where the Internet will be an open forum for fearless expression of citizens. The Bangladesh Internet Freedom Initiative Working Group is a group of experts in the field who are working to help address the key issues of constitutional, legal and moral rights of citizens in order to enjoy the rights guaranteed by Bangladeshi law. The group works through strategic advocacy, propaganda, analysis of existing national legal frameworks, and recommendations for legal reform of government policies and practices aimed at promoting and advancing Internet freedom in the country. The members of the Bangladesh Internet Freedom Initiative Working Group are Article Nineteen South Asia Regional Director Farooq Faisal, Secretary General of Penn International Bangladesh Dr. Syeda Irene Zaman, Secretary General of Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum Mohammad Abdul Haq Anu, Saleh Ahmed, Executive Director of Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Barrister Nazmus Salehin and Barrister Syed Ijaz Kabir, Lawyers of Bangladesh Supreme Court, Md. Saimum Reza Talukdar, Senior Lecturer of BRAC University School of Law, Rashed Mehedi, President, Bangladesh Telecom Reporters Network, Tax Solutions Managing Director Nazneen Nahar, Md. Tawfiq Ahmed, Center for Law and Policy Affairs Information and Technology Policy Analyst, Gender activist Ho Chi Minh Islam, Youth for Change Co-founder Zahir Raihan, Reneka Ahmed Antu, Admin, The Brave Girls.