Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) - Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today said Bangladesh witnessed rapid expansion of digital platforms in the country but credible and trustworthy information is essential to build a trusted, inclusive and resilient digital society.

“Bangladesh’s rapid digital transformation has created new opportunities for citizens to access information, communicate, learn, conduct business and receive public services,” a ministry press release quoted him as saying at a discussion on the issue in the capital. 

But, he said, reliable, credible and trustworthy information was essential to build a trusted, inclusive and resilient digital society.

Anam, also entrusted with the charge of Science and Technology ministry, made the remark as he spoke as the chief guest at “Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: Policy, Platform Accountability and Collective Action”.

He said information integrity was not limited to combating misinformation and disinformation; but also demanded social cohesion and meaningful citizen participation public trust.

He emphasized that building a credible, safe and trusted information ecosystem requires coordinated efforts by the government, technology platforms, media organisations, civil society and citizens.

The minister said responsible journalism and quality contents both in traditional and digital media were particularly important in today’s rapidly changing information environment.

He warned that harmful, misleading and manipulative contents could have serious consequences for society, particularly for children and young people.

“The government seeks the cooperation of all stakeholders to address these challenges and promote a safer, more responsible and inclusive information environment,” he said.

Anam said under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership the government remains committed to build a safe, inclusive and trusted digital environment and active support and cooperation from the media, technology platforms, civil society andl other stakeholders were essential to achieving the goal.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said fact-checking, credibility and accuracy became indispensable to good governance and public trust in an era of rapid technological advancement.

 He said freedom of expression in social media simultaneously was increasing risks of rapid spread of misinformation.

“As journalists and institutions, our responsibility to verify facts before sharing them is now greater than ever,” he said adding that the Daily Star remained deeply committed to ethical journalism and was strengthening its fact-checking and verification initiatives to respond to emerging challenges.

According to a recent UNDP Bangladesh analysis presented at the event, more than half of the online content studied contained false or misleading information, while more than one-fifth involved AI-manipulated media.

Participants discussed the need to strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks, ensure greater accountability of digital platforms, promote digital safety and address technology-facilitated harms.

They also emphasised responsible journalism, media and information literacy, and the importance of building greater resilience among citizens so they could critically assess information and participate meaningfully in public discourse.

The dialogue brought together government officials, policymakers, academics, media professionals, civil society representatives and development partners to examine emerging digital threats and identify concrete and coordinated policy responses to strengthen information integrity, social cohesion and public trust in Bangladesh.