A parliamentary standing committee on Tuesday said it would recommend authorities to increase internet bandwidth while maintaining that it
was a correct decision to decrease upload speed.
The committee for information and communication ministry said the speed was contained as a security measure to prevent unscrupulous activities and spreading of misinformation on the internet.
The decision to place ‘filters’ in social media web sites should not be viewed as ‘restriction’, said the committee.
‘Bandwidth and internet connectivity must be increased to sustain in this age of information and technology. And the committee has recommended it,’ said its chairman Mohammad Abdul Wadud during the ninth meeting of the committee at the National Parliament Complex on Tuesday.
It also suggested that bandwidth prices should be reduced to bring it within the reach of regular consumers.
‘The committee will sit with the telecommunication ministry to discuss this matter’, said Abdul Wadud.
When asked, if the committee’s decision would contradict the recent BTRC directives, the chairman said, ‘The directives were given to ensure that information and technology is used for the good of the people.’
BTRC had directed the International Gateways to limit internet bandwidth for uploads to maximum 25 percent. However, it withdrew the order on Sunday.
The information minister, Hasanul Haq Inu, said, during a press brief on Sunday, the government would take the help of ‘special technology’ to bar objectionable materials from being viewed on the social media web sites.
It would be easier to remove disagreeable contents from Facebook once this technology was put in place, said Inu.
Abdul Wadud endorsing the minister’s claim, said, ‘It is not correct to see this as control/restriction. Last few months have witnessed growth of vested groups who are trying to instigate communal tension by spreading manipulated information on the social media sites. The government took the decision to stop such activities.’
-With New Age input
