Govt strengthens nationwide efforts against rumours

The government is implementing a range of nationwide measures to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation on online media and social networking platforms, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon told Parliament on Monday.

Responding to a tabled question from ruling party lawmaker Md. Abdul Mannan (Brahmanbaria-5), the minister outlined the steps being taken to verify information, counter false narratives and encourage responsible digital behaviour among citizens.

He said a dedicated Rumour Prevention and Fact-Checking Committee has been operating around the clock at the headquarters of the Press Information Department (PID). The committee is responsible for verifying information and issuing official clarifications whenever misleading or inaccurate content gains traction on social media.

“Once false or distorted information is identified, verified facts, official statements and rebuttals are promptly circulated to both public and private media organisations to prevent the further spread of misinformation,” he said.

He also informed the House that regional information offices under the PID are actively monitoring online news portals and social media activities across their respective jurisdictions. These offices coordinate with the department’s headquarters to detect and address misinformation at the local level.

Highlighting efforts to raise public awareness, Swapon said the PID’s Feature Wing regularly produces special articles and feature reports focusing on misinformation, cyber harassment and malicious propaganda.

“These awareness materials are published in national dailies and online news portals to educate citizens and encourage responsible digital engagement,” the minister said.