The High Court has constituted a committee to find out ways to control defamatory content (such as speeches, photos, videos) from social media Facebook. The committee includes Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications, Secretary of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Finance Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Chairman of BTRC, a representative of National Board of Revenue, a representative of Bangladesh Bank, a representative of Bangladesh Newspaper Association and a representative of television channel.
The committee has been asked to submit a report in the form of recommendations within a month.
In addition, the High Court has issued a rule asking why the government’s inaction in controlling defamatory content on Facebook is not illegal.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order on Thursday (March 10).
Earlier, Desh TV Managing Director Arifur Rahman filed a writ petition in this regard. Mustafizur Rahman was the lawyer in favor of him.
He said the court had issued a rule today seeking to know why the failure to control defamatory statements made against ordinary citizens and high-ranking officials of Bangladesh through social media without any information would not be declared illegal. At the same time, the court asked the court to dispose of the petitioner’s application for control of defamatory content within 15 days and submit a report to the court.
