The government of Bangladesh is considering an effective framework to hold those spreading disinformation and rumours accountable. "A framework on how to hold those who spread disinformation and rumors accountable is under consideration," State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad A Arafat, said on Saturday (January 20, 2024). Read: Referring to victims’ pleas, Sajeeb Wazed says BNP’s ‘disinformation campaign’ aimed at passing the blame on Awami League In preventing propaganda, he said, the government is ensuring that freedom of expression and media is not hindered. The information state minister made the announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter). Read more: US expresses concern over ‘deep fakes’ in Bangladesh election-related disinformation

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy has dismissed the claim of a section that ten senior journalists’ visa requests have been refused. The ambassador described the claim as a "lie and disinformation." French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy visits Cosmos Atelier 71 “Sport is essential in life. Some play football, some tennis, others badminton or squash. @ABhuttow’s daily sport is lie and #Disinformation. His latest record can be watched hereunder,” the French ambassador replied to a comment on X (formerly Twitter). An individual named Abdur Rab Bhuttow claimed that 10 “pro-government” senior journalists were refused visa to travel to France.  Boosting cooperation with Bangladesh on political, economic, climate fronts priorities for France: Ambassador Marie Masdupuy Talking to UNB, the French ambassador said this is “totally false.” The journalists did not apply in time, for visa, for an event they were planning to attend, said an official. They will get their visas, though the event will already have taken place, said the official.

The young generation needs to understand what information they share with the masses, speakers said at a workshop. Information technology is advancing in leaps and bounds, and the dangers of disinformation, misinformation and fake news loom large, they said. The youth must be aware of these dangers and prepare themselves accordingly, said the speakers, noting that malinformation or fake news could bring anyone under the regulations of the Digital Security Act (DSA) 2018.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union, Mahbub Hassan Saleh, has addressed what he called “a wave of disinformation campaign” over rights issues during a “Briefing on the Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh” in Brussels. The session was hosted by Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Member of the European Parliament, with participation of Michael Polak, a barrister and lawyer for victims of enforced disappearances, human rights expert Abbas Faiz, Ambassador Saleh, and Tasneem Khalil, editor in chief of Netra News. On the issue of cancelling the registration of rights organization Odhikar – whose claim of 61 victims in its report “Assembly of Hefajat-e Islam Bangladesh and Human Rights Violation” was heavily contested by mainstream media as “half-truth, biased and one-sided presentation” – Ambassador Saleh referred to financial irregularities on part of the NGO, as clarified by concerned authorities. “The move that caused the closure of Odhikar stemmed from financial irregularities – the organization’s refusal to submit their report of financial audit,” explained the ambassador. In reference to that particular Odhikar report, the ambassador said, “The 2013 report, immediately afterwards that drive, claimed 61 people were killed by the security forces. They were repeatedly requested to provide the names (of victims), but till date they have not done that.” Leading national media outlets later came up with independent investigations, finding that Odhikar “blew up” the number of casualties. At the time, several leading rights activists questioned the neutrality of Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of Odhikar. Ambassador Saleh said, “Adilur was the deputy attorney general during the BNP-Jamaat regime (2001-2006). So trying to portray him as an ‘independent, civil society individual’ is grossly incorrect. He has a definitive political alignment with a particular political party.” In response to the Bangladeshi ambassador, Tasneem Khalil said he was abducted and tortured in 2007, when the country was ruled by the military-backed caretaker government. Offering a lesson of history, the ambassador said, “I am surprised that none of the speakers mentioned a single word about August 15, 1975, and August 21, 2004. In 1975, on August 15, the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with 18 family members, was brutally assassinated, and the successive military regime introduced indemnity ordinance to protect the killers and rewarded them with diplomatic jobs.” Read more: Diplomats don’t have the power to put anyone in power: Information Minister “The current PM was not allowed to return to her country for six years. She lived as a refugee. When she returned, she was not allowed to go inside her parents’ house; she prayed on the streets for her deceased family members… I believe she also has human rights,” he added. “In 2004, Sheikh Hasina was the opposition leader, and during a rally in the capital, a grenade attack was launched to kill her and her party colleagues… 23 were killed as they formed a human shield to protect her. I believe, for the sake of fairness, these incidents also need to be referred to by the speakers as you discuss a particular situation in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, that was not the case,” the ambassador said. Khalil, in his speech, claimed that the “problem of enforced disappearance was not there” between the return of democracy and when Awami League assumed office in 2009. It should be mentioned that Bangladesh saw a surge in terror activities during the BNP-Jamaat government in 2001-2006. A US Embassy cable to Washington in 2008, from former ambassador to Bangladesh James Moriarty, deemed Tarique Rahman “a symbol of violent politics”. Read more: UN reminds Bangladesh of commitments to free expression, peaceful assembly

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said they believe that international organisations would not take individuals’ letters or instigation into their consideration as the government is sending facts-based briefings to them. “They (individuals) might keep writing. It’s being written at an individual level. We believe those organisations won’t take this into their consideration,” he told reporters, apparently referring to excitement among a particular group of people following the sanctions imposed on Rab and some individuals. Dr Momen talked to reporters after attending the closing ceremony of 16th National Wushu Championship as the chief guest at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium, Mirpur. Also read: Dhaka smells more ‘assaults’, wants to counter propaganda abroad with facts

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday urged the patriotic citizens abroad to put in their stronger efforts to counter conspiracies against the country’s interest, noting that there might be more “assaults” on the country and its interests based on propaganda and disinformation. “It seems to me there might be various types of assaults and conspiracies against us in the next two years,” he said urging the activists of Bangabandhu Foundation abroad to take a stronger position against such attempts centering the next national elections. The Foreign Minister, also the President of the Bangabandhu Foundation, said each Bangladesh Mission abroad that runs with the country’s taxpayers’ money is the number one lobbyist of the country to uphold Bangladesh’s interests. Also read:Sheikh Selim slams US for sanctions on RAB He hoped that the people associated with the Bangabandhu Foundation abroad will help the missions abroad with the information regarding any attempt of conspiracies against the country as in some cases missions may not get access to such information instantly. Dr Momen was addressing a virtual discussion titled “Lobbying conspiracy that started centering the 12th parliamentary election and steps that Bangabandhu Foundation can take” as the chief guest. Pointing finger at conspirators, the Foreign Minister said the country’s interest and people’s welfare should be the priority if anyone wants to get involved in politics. Referring to the letter written by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Ivan Stefanec to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Dr Momen said, “When I was reading the letter, I felt that I was reading about another country as the letter’s content doesn’t go with the situation of the country.” He said there is a possibility that the opposition parties might engage more such people to write against Bangladesh. Also read: No impact on European business interest in Bangladesh, says EU envoy about sanctions The Foreign Minister said the Awami League has continued its efforts to make the election process transparent which needs to be highlighted. “We’re lucky that we’ve got a transparent, very committed, firm and very strong leadership, and we hope under her leadership we’ll build Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla,” he said. Central AL leader and Bangabandhu Foundation General Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam Thandu, Foundation’s Executive President Adv Moshiur Malek, Rashida Hoque Konica and Engineer M Shakil Khan also spoke at the event.

Emphasising the need for drawing a line between free speech and disinformation, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has said that innovative solutions are needed to spread truth in the society. "Incorrect information can led people and the society in the wrong way. On the other hand, right and objective information can play a role in creating constructive opinion," Shirin said, while addressing the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna on Tuesday night. However, she advocated the need for stricter laws if the existing ones are inadequate to curb the menace of fake news. "In addition to ensuring fundamental freedom of speech and expression, more effective and innovative solutions need to be explored to spread truth. If the desired results are not achieved through the existing laws, more powerful laws need to be enacted," the Speaker added. Read: Norwegian envoy meets Speaker Shirin Sharmin Urging people to shun conventional mentality, she said: "It is needed to change the conventional ideas, mentality and thinking. In addition to spreading the need for education among the older generation, the new generation should be abreast with the latest developments. "Strong family structures as well as educational institutions are essential for proper education and the media can play an important role in this regard." Awami League MPs Bodruddoza Md Farhad Hossain (Brahmanbaria-1), Rumana Ali (Women Seat-14) and Gloria Jharna Sarker (Women Seat-30) were also present at the conference on 'Countering Misinformation and Hate Speech Requires Stronger Regulations'. Dr Shirin left Dhaka for Vienna, the capital of Austria, to attend the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament on September 5. Also read: Dr Shirin leaves for Vienna to join Speakers’ Conference She will also join the 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (13SWSP) and the First Global Parliamentary Meeting on Counter-Terrorism. The 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the world's largest gathering of the highest level of parliamentary representation, is being jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Austrian Parliament on September 7 and 8. This conference will be followed by the 13SWSP and the Parliamentary Meeting on Counter-Terrorism on September 9. Over 110 Parliament Speakers from around the world arrived in Vienna for the first in-person large-scale inter-parliamentary meeting since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh's Deputy High Commission in Kolkata condemned the disinformation campaign targeting Bangladesh by several web portals based in India's northeastern region.