The matter of the access to social media like Facebook, X, Twitter and others will be decided on July 31. On that day, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak will hold a meeting with the representatives of the social media at the BTRC building in Agargaon of the capital.
BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed, Director General of NTMC Major General Ziaul Ahsan and other stakeholders will be present in the meeting.
According to sources, they were summoned by mail regarding this meeting on Saturday. They have been asked for clarification on some issues. In a press conference held at the BTRC conference center on Sunday, the state minister said, “We have given a letter to the popular social media including Facebook, TikTok from BTRC yesterday. In the letter, they have been asked as why no action has been taken against the contents regarding the unwanted violence that has happened in the country in the last one month as well as various rumors and propaganda in this connection.
In a letter written to social media, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, they have been asked to come to BTRC on July 31 to answer the issues whether they want to use the cyber space in Bangladesh according to their own community standards in accordance with the constitution and laws of Bangladesh? Did they apply a different policy to Bangladesh by ignoring their own community standards? Or taking a different position than other countries?
Regarding this, State Minister Palak said, we have informed them several times that the chaos caused by a group of conspirators spreading rumors. But the number of takedowns they have done, the number of platforms they have taken down is negligible. We can see that they have blocked 50 pages/accounts which were working in support of Bangladesh Awami League. But why are all the contents of BNP’s verified page or convicted defendant Tarek Zia’s speech on Facebook or YouTube live not being blocked or taken down? But for the past few days, they have not shown any responsible response regarding the content which is insulting to children, women, arson, killing. They did not play a role. The Misinformation flag was not shown. This is unacceptable to us. They will come and explain it to me and I will meet them on the 31st. If the explanation is satisfactory, then other social media including Facebook will be opened.
