DHAKA: The High Court has directed mobile phone operators to close all special internet offers during nighttime (12:01am-6:00am) for six months.

An HC bench comprising Justices Moinul Islam Chowdhury and JBM Hassan passed the order on Monday (Oct 16) following a writ seeking to close the internet offers.

The court also issued a rule asking authorities concerned why they should not be directed to shut down the nighttime internet offers.

Post and Telecommunications secretary, chairman of BTRC, Home Secretary, education secretary, social welfare secretary, Information and Communication Technology Secretary, law secretary, health secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), Bangladesh Computer Council and Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel, Banglalink, Teletalk and Citycell authorities were made respondents to the rule. 

On Sunday (Oct 15), three Supreme Court lawyers filed a writ seeking directives to close special internet offers by mobile phone operators and also to block online gateway links to Blue Whale and other suicide games.

After hearing the writ petition, the same HC bench directed authorities concerned to block gateway links of all online based suicide games including the much-hyped Blue Whale game that has been allegedly linked to deaths of several children worldwide.

BDST: 1410 HRS, OCT 16, 2017
AP/SMS