Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has stated that ensuring citizens’ right to information remains a key priority of the current government. He added that alongside the free flow of information, preventing the spread of misinformation and misleading content is equally important for public protection.
He made the remarks on Sunday morning while speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting with members of the core group of the “Information Rights Forum” held at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting conference room at the Secretariat.
The minister said there are specific reasons behind the suspension of the ordinance related to the amendment of the Right to Information Act in the National Parliament. He further stated that a more effective law would be formulated after incorporating opinions and recommendations from experienced stakeholders associated with the Right to Information framework.
He also noted that while the free flow of information is increasing, the circulation of misinformation is also rising in parallel. For this reason, he emphasised that ensuring accurate information must be accompanied by responsible use and dissemination.
According to the minister, “More information leads to more truth”, highlighting the importance of ensuring uninterrupted access to information. At the same time, he stressed the need to determine how the institutional integrity of the Information Commission can be preserved.
Zahir Uddin Swapan called upon the participants to submit constructive suggestions for the amendment of the Right to Information Act. He also underlined the importance of strengthening fact-checking and screening mechanisms to ensure the reliability of information.
The meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury as special guest.
A number of distinguished speakers also participated in the discussion, including Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB); Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shujan (Citizens for Good Governance); Information Secretary Mahbuba Farzana; and Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of MRDI.
Summary of Participants and Key Discussion Points
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Views-exchange meeting on Right to Information |
| Venue | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Secretariat |
| Chief Guest | Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan |
| Special Guest | State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury |
| Key Issues | Right to Information Act, misinformation control, information flow |
| Emphasis Areas | Fact-checking, screening mechanisms, institutional integrity |
The discussions focused on the ongoing review of the Right to Information framework, the balance between information accessibility and misinformation control, and the need for institutional strengthening to ensure transparency and accountability in information management.