RSF’s report on Bangladesh contains misinformation: Arafat

Staff Reporter :
The latest report of global Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Bangladesh was “unacceptable” as it contained misinformation and lacked factual accuracy.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ministry Mohammad Ali Arafat on Monday came up with this while talking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The RSF alleged that the Digital Security Act (DSA) was often used to keep journalists and bloggers in prison, in “appalling conditions”.

The index placed Bangladesh on 163rd position out of 180 countries while the report was still posted on its website.

Countering the allegations made in the RSF report, Arafat said, “The RFS’s evaluation ignoring the real scenario of press freedom and independent journalism in Bangladesh is an unacceptable, biased and deviated from factual accuracy.”

He said state broadcasters BTV and Betar focus on education, the empowerment of rural people, development-oriented news and areas less covered by private channels.

“Therefore, the statement of RSF on its website describing BTV and Betar as the propaganda machine of the government is baseless,” Arafat added.

He said his thorough investigation and updated information suggested RSF claim over the six journalists illogical and baseless.

The state minister urged the RSF to review its report on Bangladesh and its ranking by considering the government efforts based on accurate information and data.

Asked what might have prompted RSF to depict a negative landscape involving Bangladesh media, Arafat said propaganda was carried out over Bangladesh and its democracy, human rights and freedom of expression and the press which often influenced the reports like the RSF one.

“We will try to perform our duties to ensure free flow of reliable information against the misinformation and disinformation. Our task is to fight the falsehood with truth,” he added.