The High Court yesterday directed Bangladesh Telecommunication  Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to immediately remove the personal and confidential photographs of media personality Rafiath Rashid Mithila and director Iftekhar Ahmed Fahmi from all news portals as well as social media.

The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why their failure to regulate publishing personal and confidential information and pictures of people on news portals and social media should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the HC also asked them to show cause why they should not be directed to control the publishing of personal and confidential pictures and information of citizens on social media.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, information, post and telecommunication and the BTRC have been made respondents to the rule.   

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Barrister Tahsina Tasnim Mridu, a supreme court lawyer, seeking a necessary order.

Tahsina told The Daily Star that the constitution and law of the state have guaranteed personal security and safety of people and prohibited publishing personal, confidential, indecent photos and information of people in the media without their consent.  

Personal and confidential pictures of Mithila and Fahmi were published on  news portals and social media without their consent, which is a violation of the constitution and law, she said.

The respondents are responsible of regulating the publishing of personal and confidential information and pictures of people on news portals and social media but they have failed to discharge their duties, Tahsina added.