Hasina wants to stop flow of 'harmful' information

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the information ministry to be watchful to stop the flow of information that harms people.

"This is an important duty of the information ministry to take useful information to people and to be particularly watchful to stop the flow of harmful information to them," she told the foundation stone laying ceremony for Tathya Bhaban (Information Building) on the premises of the Department of Film and Publications in the capital.

This is the information age where information creates opportunities for people, she said, adding, "But fabricated information creates confusion among people and causes them harm."

Hasina stressed the importance of how information is circulated and presented, and how the audience is receiving it.  "So I hope useful information will be presented to people."

The prime minister said special attention was needed so that distorted information could not harm people, especially children and the youth, or damage their character building process.

With Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed in the chair, the programme was also addressed by Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM's adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Ministry AKM Rahmatullah MP.

Welcoming criticism of the government, the prime minister said, "There'll be criticism; let there be constructive criticism. But criticism shouldn't confuse people distorting the fact. Critics should also mention the development and good works of the government."

Hasina directed the information ministry to effectively project government's achievements in the last six and a half years.

She also asked the ministry to let people know about its future plans to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

The information ministry has a big role in making people aware against militancy, terrorism, and drug addiction as well as informing them of government's development initiatives.

Referring to the distortion of history of the country's independence, she said the ministry should take appropriate measures to disseminate untainted information.

Hasina mentioned that the wave of international terrorism also jolted the country during the BNP-Jamaat regime but her government dealt with the menace with an iron hand, and asked the media to make people aware to check the recurrence of the social menaces.

She said work on the adoption of the National Broadcasting Policy 2014 and enactment of the Broadcasting Commission Act was progressing fast for development of the electronic media through consolidating their freedom.

Besides, the draft of the National Film Policy has been finalised and the issue of a separate wage for electronic media journalists is being actively considered by the government, she said.