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.
He also questioned whether the Press Council Act will be amended to bring online news reports under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Press Council, saying there is currently no scope of lodging complaints over misleading or false reports published on the online versions of newspapers.
Politics must be freed from rogues: Hasnat
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 said the existing Press Council Act primarily provides a mechanism for lodging complaints against misinformation or misleading reports published in print media.
However, the lawmaker said, there is no similar opportunity to complain to the Press Council when a newspaper’s online edition personally attacks an individual or publishes misinformation about them.
He said he had made remarks in Parliament about East West Media Group PLC and 109 “motivated reports” were subsequently published about him within 48 hours.
“But as those reports were published online, I could not lodge complaints with the Press Council,” Hasnat said.
He asked what avenues are available for members of the opposition to seek redress when misinformation is disseminated against them online.
The lawmaker also asked whether the government plans to amend the existing law to bring online news reports within the jurisdiction of the Press Council.
In reply, the state minister said opposition lawmakers are not the only ones being targeted through online platforms.
He said women, members of the government, the Prime Minister and members of his family are also being subjected to attacks online.
Yasser said the government has taken an initiative to restructure the Press Council.
He said bringing online news reports under the Press Council’s jurisdiction is also under consideration.
The government is reviewing measures adopted by other countries to prevent misinformation and misleading information and holding discussions with relevant stakeholders on the issue, the state minister added.