Dhaka: State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury announced today that the government is planning to create a dedicated task force aimed at combating misinformation disseminated under the guise of journalism. This announcement was made during a question-answer session at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), in response to a query posed by Jainal Abedin Faruque, a treasury bench lawmaker representing the Noakhali-2 constituency. The session was presided over by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Choudhury elaborated that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will soon disclose the team’s composition and their specific responsibilities. The government’s ongoing efforts are focused on legally addressing those involved in spreading misinformation through journalism. Additionally, individuals not registered as journalists but who disseminate misinformation via social media platforms will also be subjected to legal scrutiny through monitoring mechanisms.
In response to another query, the state minister revealed that the government is in the process of formulating a policy for online and digital portals. Future approvals for these platforms will be guided by the policy once it is established.
Addressing a separate question regarding the recent termination of journalists from various media outlets, posed by Abdul Hannan Masud, a National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker from Noakhali-6, Choudhury urged the lawmaker to identify specific media outlets involved. He assured that media freedom remains intact under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, emphasizing that the administration is committed to maintaining press freedom as a pillar of democracy. Choudhury contrasted the current situation with past regimes, which he described as having interfered with media independence by dictating selective news coverage.