Staff Reporter<:/strong>
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon yesterday said that ensuring people’s right to information remains one of the top priorities of the incumbent government, alongside protecting citizens from misinformation and disinformation.
“However, apart from ensuring free flow of information, it is equally important to protect the people by preventing the spread of misinformation and disinformation,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a view-exchange meeting with members of the core group of the Right to Information Forum at the ministry’s meeting room at the Secretariat yesterday morning.
Speaking as the chief guest, he said there were specific reasons behind the suspension of the Right to Information (Amendment) Ordinance in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Swapon said the spread of misinformation has also increased alongside the free flow of information. “So, in addition to ensuring the flow of information, we must also seriously consider the issue of its accountability,” he added.
He noted that it would not be sufficient only to expand access to information, stressing that an effective law would be formulated by taking into account the opinions and recommendations of experienced stakeholders in the Right to Information Act.
“The more information, the more truth – for this reason, it is very important to ensure the free flow of information. To this end, we also have to decide how to protect the institutional character of the Information Commission,” he said.
The minister sought constructive recommendations from participants for amending the Right to Information Act and emphasised the need for fact-checking and screening of information.
He assured that the concerned authorities would involve all stakeholders in the law-making process.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Choudhury attended the meeting as a special guest.
Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Information Secretary Mahbuba Farjana, and MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman Mukur, also spoke, among others.
They presented various reform proposals aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act and ensuring the free flow of information.
