Exempt print and electronic media

The government's move to make print newspapers obtain registration for their online editions is neither logical nor necessary. In fact it is counter-productive. All newspapers have gone through the official process of getting government approval through obtaining a "Declaration" and have been operating for years, many for decades. It is the same for television channels which operate under official license; hence their online version should be included in this authorisation. Thus newspapers should not require additional registration for their online editions which are the extensions of the parent organisations and not separate entities. The registration process, therefore, should only be confined to those news portals which are exclusively online and have not obtained official permission to operate from any official body so far.

Online editions of newspapers and television channels in Bangladesh, like the rest of the world, have been introduced in response to the demand for internet versions of media content. For Bangladeshi print and electronic media, online editions are crucial for millions of expatriate Bangladeshis all over the globe to be in touch with their country. 

The government, therefore, must give a clear directive that only unregistered, purely online news portals must go through the registration process. Online editions that are inseparable parts of the newspapers should be run under the existing Printing Presses and Publication Act and not be lumped together with unregistered online entities.