Govt committed to ensuring media freedom: Information Minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman, MP, today said the government is committed to ensuring media freedom.

“The government is not trying to control the media and has no such intention,” he said when British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke made a courtesy call on him at his ministry office here today.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury, MP, was present.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner congratulated Andaleeve Rahman on assuming office as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

The minister said it is extremely important to ensure journalists’ freedom of expression while protecting people from misinformation and disinformation.

He stressed the need for taking effective measures against the dissemination of defamatory and misleading information through the media and various social media platforms.

The state minister also said that, alongside ensuring media freedom, protecting people’s rights should also be given equal consideration. He said the government is regularly exchanging views with relevant stakeholders on the issue.

“The government has already taken various initiatives to ensure the financial security of journalists,” Yasser Khan Choudhury said, adding that media owners also need to play a responsible role in this regard.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner stressed the importance of maintaining ethical standards in journalism while ensuring freedom of expression.

She also highlighted the importance of fact-checking in combating misinformation and disinformation on social media.

She also said there are opportunities for cooperation between the United Kingdom’s Office of Communications, or Ofcom, and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this regard.

The meeting also discussed various issues of mutual interest, including addressing the challenges posed by social media, ensuring the accuracy of information and promoting responsible media practices.