Dhaka: State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury today asserted that the mass media is currently experiencing greater freedom than during any previous regimes. He emphasized that the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has no intention to impose control over media outlets.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister conveyed these remarks on behalf of Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Andaleeve Rahman while responding to a question posed by opposition lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud of Noakhali-6 at the Jatiya Sangsad. The session was presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir-Bikram. Yasser Khan Choudhury reiterated the government's commitment to media freedom, stating, "With the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we are not imposing any restriction on the media and even we have no such intention."
In response to a query regarding the censoring of news related to State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, Yasser Khan Choudhury affirmed the independence of the mass media, indicating that editorial decisions regarding news selection and publishing lie solely with individual media outlets. He stated, "We believe in press freedom, so we won't interfere with their freedom."
Addressing another inquiry from BNP lawmaker Sultana Jasmine Jui of reserved women seat-50, the state minister acknowledged the expectation for newsmen to maintain neutrality in reporting. However, he also highlighted the government's efforts to address misinformation and disinformation within news reporting.