Staff Correspondent

ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has called for urgent, coordinated efforts among the government, media, digital platforms, civil society, academics, youth, and development partners to strengthen information credibility, public trust, and social cohesion in Bangladesh, while addressing the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.

Speaking as the chief guest at a policy dialogue titled “Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: Policy, Platform Accountability and Collective Action” in Dhaka on Tuesday, the Minister highlighted that while rapid digital transformation has expanded opportunities in communication, education, and public services, ensuring reliable and accurate information is vital for a stable and inclusive digital ecosystem.

"Protecting information integrity is not limited to countering disinformation; it is directly linked to public trust, social cohesion, and meaningful citizen participation," he said, emphasizing that government cooperation with tech platforms, media, and civil society is essential.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is committed to building a safe, inclusive, and trust-based digital environment," he added.

Addressing the event, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam noted that in an era of rapid technological advancement, fact-checking, credibility, and accuracy have become indispensable for ensuring good governance and public trust.

The dialogue was organized by UNDP Bangladesh and partners with support from the German government, drawing senior officials and experts from the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), BTRC, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Election Commission, UNESCO, UNFPA, The Asia Foundation, media outlets, and civil society organizations.