Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Monday directed officials to prepare a detailed work calendar within the next two days outlining the communication plan and its implementation framework for the upcoming referendum and the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for 2026.
She also stressed the need to continue initiatives aimed at informing voters about the key issues of the referendum and its far-reaching benefits, saying sustained and well-coordinated publicity efforts are essential to ensure meaningful public participation.
The adviser made the remarks while addressing a virtual coordination meeting with district information officers to review the progress of grassroots-level publicity activities ahead of the referendum and the 13th parliamentary election.
She said that joint and coordinated campaigns would help enhance public engagement in the electoral process, adding that citizens should actively take part in the referendum if they seek positive changes in the state structure and the reflection of people’s hopes and aspirations.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki praised the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for its ongoing publicity drive, noting that the pace of work could be further intensified by maintaining the current momentum.
He said a leaflet featuring a demonstration of the referendum process is almost finalised and would further enrich campaign activities once followed.
Farooki also instructed the concerned officials to involve district information offices in the ‘Voter’s Vehicle’ initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said better results could be achieved if offices under the Local Government Division worked in close coordination with the election-related publicity programmes of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
In his welcome address, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana highlighted the initiatives being undertaken by the ministry in view of the referendum and the 13th parliamentary election. She said the Department of Mass Communication is conducting intensive publicity campaigns through 64 district information offices and four upazila information offices, with the objective of ensuring active public participation in the referendum process.
She added that the upcoming vote would safeguard people’s rights, bring positive change to the country and contribute effectively to ensuring citizens’ rights within the governance system.
Special programmes have been designed for first-time voters, young voters, women voters and voters from small ethnic communities.
These groups will be provided with practical demonstrations of the referendum and election processes. Region-based popular folk music has also been included as part of the awareness campaign.
The meeting was also addressed by Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidul Rahman, Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Zahedi and Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil.
The online meeting on publicity matters was attended by the heads of 68 district information offices. Additional Secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Dr Mohammad Altaf-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Riyasat Al Wasif, Director (Technical) of the Department of Mass Communication Mir Mohammad Aslam Uddin, Director (Administration) Syed A Mu’men, Director (Publicity) Dalia Yasmin, Deputy Director Kazi Shamminaj Alam and Deputy Director Gazi Sharifa Yasmin were also present.