Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh said on Thursday that the government supports full media freedom, but such freedom does not mean “arbitrary conduct.”
He made the remarks at a “Meet the Press” program organized by the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
He said: “The responsibility of determining how far media freedom will extend does not lie with the government or the people; only the courts have the authority to make the final decision on this matter.”
Calling for measures to prevent the spread of false information in the era of information technology, Saleh said: “Every media outlet must take its own initiative to introduce a systematic ‘fact-checking’ program or information verification system to prevent rumors, speculation and misinformation. There is no alternative to this to ensure responsible journalism.”
Speaking about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s participation in the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly, Saleh said: “Maintaining the traditional continuity of slain President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is going to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly this time. The participation of Bangladesh’s prime minister on the world stage is a matter of great pride not only for the country but also in the international context.”
Referring to the country’s economic and administrative situation, the press secretary said the government is moving the country forward by dealing with the fragile administrative structure of previous years and the ongoing global war situation.
He said Bangladesh has now become a highly safe and stable state for foreign investment after overcoming all types of domestic and international risks.