Dhaka: National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Hasnat Abdullah on Wednesday alleged that 109 'motivated reports' were published against him within 48 hours after he made remarks in Parliament about a media organisation.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Hasnat raised the issue during the question-answer session in Parliament while asking a supplementary question to State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury. He pointed out that the existing Press Council Act primarily provides a mechanism for lodging complaints against misinformation or misleading reports published in print media but lacks provision for online content.
The lawmaker emphasized the difficulty in addressing misinformation from newspapers' online editions, which often personally target individuals or spread false information. He highlighted his own experience, noting that after his comments about East West Media Group PLC, 109 'motivated reports' were published about him online, leaving him without recourse to lodge complaints with the Press Council.
Hasnat questioned the available avenues for opposition members to seek redress when misinformation is disseminated against them online and inquired whether the government plans to amend the existing law to include online news reports under the Press Council's jurisdiction.
Responding to Hasnat's concerns, the state minister acknowledged that opposition lawmakers are not the only targets of online misinformation. He noted that women, government members, the Prime Minister, and his family also face online attacks. Yasser Khan Choudhury revealed that the government has initiated efforts to restructure the Press Council and is considering extending its jurisdiction to include online news reports.
The state minister mentioned that the government is reviewing measures adopted by other countries to combat misinformation and is engaging in discussions with relevant stakeholders to address the issue effectively.