Dhaka: The government has assembled a panel of lawyers to take decisive legal action against disinformation and cyber bullying, with a specific focus on protecting citizens, including women who are frequently targeted by online abuse. This was announced by the Prime Minister’s adviser on the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Zahed Ur Rahman, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been actively working to combat disinformation and, to some extent, misinformation, particularly concerning organized disinformation campaigns and online harassment. Zahed Ur Rahman provided these insights at a press briefing held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat.
“We are especially concerned about disinformation and the cyber bullying that regularly targets women. A woman often faces severe online abuse simply for expressing a different opinion,” he emphasized.
Zahed Ur Rahman explained that the formation of the lawyer panel has been finalized after extensive administrative procedures, which included public advertisements, interviews, and verification. “The only remaining step is the formal notification, which will be issued within the next couple of days,” he stated.
Describing the initiative as a positive development for the public, the adviser highlighted that the panel would address harms caused by false information, fake images, manipulated videos, and malicious online campaigns.
“It is also bad news for those who spread disinformation and engage in cyber bullying. The state and the government are going to take these offences seriously, so they should be cautious,” he cautioned.
The government acknowledges the importance of improving public media literacy to help individuals identify false or misleading content. Zahed Ur Rahman noted that while mainstream media adhere to editorial processes, social media platforms often lack such safeguards, making it essential for users to verify information before sharing it.
He reiterated that the government would not tolerate disinformation or cyber bullying and that the lawyer panel would act based on specific complaints and on its initiative when necessary.
The panel’s responsibilities would extend beyond addressing disinformation targeting the government, also working to protect ordinary citizens from online harassment and false information. Zahed Ur Rahman encouraged people to report incidents of cyber bullying and disinformation, expressing hope that the new mechanism would effectively curb such offences once operational.