Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon has called for greater use of digital communication to strengthen disaster preparedness and response, saying technology-driven public outreach is essential to delivering timely, accurate information during emergencies.
Speaking at a virtual meeting with district information officers on disaster preparedness and response at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday, Swapon directed officials to expand their digital engagement to ensure faster dissemination of government information and counter misinformation.
"The traditional role of district information officers must evolve to meet the demands of today's information-driven world," he said. "They need to be more active on digital platforms to ensure that government development initiatives and disaster-related information reach people quickly, accurately, and credibly."
Swapon said district information officers should increasingly use digital tools for field-level reporting, information gathering, and public engagement, adding that social media and other online platforms must become central to government communication.
"While awareness campaigns using projectors and publicity vehicles remain relevant, today's reality demands that digital communication receive equal, if not greater, importance," he said.
Warning that delays in communicating government initiatives could create opportunities for misinformation, the minister said combating misinformation and disinformation and maintaining a credible information environment remain among the ministry's top priorities.
Describing information as "as essential as oxygen," Swapon said ensuring people's access to accurate and timely information is a core responsibility of the government. He urged ministry officials to work proactively to keep public communication transparent and reliable.
To improve disaster communication, Swapon directed the Department of Mass Communication and the Press Information Department (PID) to jointly collect, coordinate, and disseminate disaster-related information on a daily basis.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury said the ministry's work often has a significant impact despite receiving little public attention. He proposed creating an online dashboard to provide regularly updated disaster information, enabling stakeholders to access the latest updates at any time.
Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman called for more evidence-based and analytical disaster reporting. He urged district information officers to collect detailed information on damage, location-specific conditions, and potential risks to strengthen disaster management and public communication.
Officials also presented the latest updates from district information offices on rainfall, flooding, and relief distribution across the country.
The meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana, Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil, senior ministry officials, and district information officers from across the country.
