Dhaka: The High Court on Monday asked the authorities concerned to block all the pornography websites in the country for six months.

A bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal came up with the order after hearing a writ petition.

The secretaries of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Law and Information, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and all mobile phone operators have been asked to execute the order.

Besides, the court issued a rule asking them to explain as to why websites with pornography should not be blocked permanently.

The rule also sought explanation as to why there will be no provision for attaching the National Identity Card (NID) number in all social media, including Facebook, for rating user’s age and why directives should not be given to stop lucrative short-term internet offers from mobile phone companies.

Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab who stood for the petitioners said the court ordered blocking of not only the porn sites but also any website containing indecent contents.

During the hearing, a survey of non-government organisation Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) was placed before the court which shows that 77 percent of school-going students of the capital are addicted to pornography.

Earlier on November 11, human rights organisation—Law and Life Foundation, Md Rasel Hossain of Chandpur and Khairul Hasan Sarkar of Mymensingh—filed the write petition with the High Court.