State Minister for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Thursday said the ministry has no direct authority to take measures against the dissemination of misleading information on social media from abroad.
He, however, mentioned that there is a Fact-checking Committee under the Press Information Department, which is working continuously to prevent rumours and misleading propaganda against the country at home and abroad.
The state minister said this in Parliament while responding to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Sirajganj Chayan Islam.
The state minister said that there is an opportunity to take action under the existing law if any subversive activity or propaganda is carried out against the country from inside Bangladesh.
“But mechanism to handle disinformation through social media from foreign soil has not yet been developed. But the government is very careful about this. Countering propaganda using information technology is possible through information technology. Efforts will soon be taken to stop propaganda through proper application of technology,” Arafat said.
He said that not only Bangladesh but the whole world is very concerned over misinformation and rumours. In the meeting of the World Economic Forum, misinformation and disinformation have been identified as the number one problem of the future.
“We have been affected for the past 15 years. We are all aware of this. After taking charge of the ministry, I have talked about it with the stakeholders. If the country can be freed from lies and rumours, there will be no place for anti-liberation war evil forces in the country. Because these evil forces have taken their place only based on lies and rumours,” the state minister also said.
He said that freedom of expression is important for the sake of democracy. At the same time, countering rumours and blocking disinformation is equally important.
“We are working on it. This will require the cooperation of the Ministry of Law, the Home Affairs and the ICT. We have already taken some initiatives,” Arafat added.