Unregistered online portals to be closed: Arafat

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said that aside from the online versions of the renowned news media in the country, registered news portals, and news portals that have applied for registration, all other online news portals will be shut down. 

"In the country, there are 213 online (portals) of renowned media and there are 213 registered online (portals). So in total, there are 426 online (portals). Aside from that, those that have applied and are under process, a list will be made," he said. 

Any portals out of this list will be shut down, the state minister said. However, he did not mention when these online news portals may be shut down. 

Mohammad Ali Arafat made the remarks at the ‘Meet the Reporters’ programme organized by the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) at its Nasrul Hamid Auditorium with DRU President Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo in the chair on Saturday.

DRU Acting General Secretary Md Mizanur Rahman conducted the event.