State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Choudhury-File photo

DHAKA, April 20, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Choudhury has urged the media and all concerned to speak out and take an active role in preventing the spread of disinformation and misinformation, warning everyone about their negative impacts. 

"The spread of false information can pose serious risks not only to the state but also to individuals and institutions," he said. 

He made these remarks as the chief guest at the 12th anniversary of Channel i Online this afternoon. 

The discussion and anniversary event, titled "Journalism in the Age of Algorithms," was held at the rooftop venue of the Channel i building in the capital. 

The State Minister said, "At present, the flow of information online is very high. But we must remain vigilant so that this opportunity is not misused to spread misinformation. Especially on online media platforms, awareness and preventive measures are crucial." 

He expressed hope that Channel i Online would continue its leading role in countering such activities by providing objective journalism. 

Recalling his 16 years of experience working at the BBC, Yeaser said, "Digitalization does not simply mean going online. It is a costly process that depends heavily on technical expertise. We are working to modernize and digitize Bangladesh's media sector to international standards, and we are continuing discussions with various stakeholders in this regard." 

Highlighting the government's commitment to press freedom, he said, "We firmly believe in the freedom of the press. To strengthen democracy, newspapers, electronic, and digital media have been given the opportunity to operate independently. Maintaining this is one of our government's key commitments." 

This year's anniversary slogan of Channel i Online was "Fearless, Free, Courageous." 

At the event, Editor of Channel i Online and Chief Executive Editor of Channel i, Zahid Newaz Khan, presented the keynote paper.

Among others, poet and teacher Afroza Soma, journalist Shawkat Hossain Masum, and Dhaka University teacher Dr. Imran Hossain also took part in the discussion. 

The event, hosted by Channel i Chief News Editor Mir Masrur Zaman Rony, also included an award ceremony honoring top journalists. 

Later, the State Minister also cut a cake along with invited guests to mark the anniversary.