‘Govt has no intention to control media’

Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman said on Wednesday that the government is committed to upholding freedom of expression and creating an environment conducive to a free media.
He made the remarks after US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen met him at State Minister Yasser Khan Choudhury’s office at the Secretariat in Dhaka.
During the meeting, the US envoy congratulated Andaleeve on assuming the role of information and broadcasting minister.
The minister apprised him of various efforts to bring about positive changes in the political culture, reiterating that the government has no intention of controlling the media.
He cited the broadcasting of opposition party news on Bangladesh Television (BTV) as an example.
At the same time, the minister said necessary measures would be taken to curb the spread of defamatory statements, misinformation and disinformation across various platforms, including social media.
Christensen emphasised the importance of engaging with stakeholders on these issues.
Speaking at the meeting, Yasser Khan also stressed the need to take effective initiatives to combat misinformation and disinformation, as well as to utilise artificial intelligence in this regard.
He noted that ordinary citizens suffer the most from misinformation and disinformation, highlighting how malicious propaganda is spread through fake social media accounts.
He spoke of the need for effective measures to ensure that citizens feel safe while using social media.
The meeting also discussed the economic relationship between Bangladesh and the United States.
The US envoy highlighted the growing bilateral ties across various sectors, including trade and commerce.
Highlighting continued US economic support for the Rohingyas, he said specific assistance is being provided to the health sector to prevent infectious diseases.