Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon has said misleading narratives are being created among the public through distorted and pieced-together news reports circulated across social media and other media platforms.
“Media outlets must perform their responsibilities with greater caution to prevent misinformation,” he said.
He made the comments at a special press conference held at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Wednesday.
Atikur Rahman said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has always believed in freedom of the media. However, he said media freedom must be accompanied by responsibility and caution in news reporting.
Citing examples of what he described as misinformation, Atikur Rahman said some individuals in a neighbouring country had distorted reports claiming that a temple had been demolished as part of new reform initiatives.
“In reality, the government is carrying out development work at the temple,” he said, adding that similar misinformation was also being spread by some individuals within Bangladesh.
Referring to the prime minister’s previous involvement with the newspaper industry, Atikur Rahman said: “Our prime minister was also associated with a newspaper. Just two days before becoming prime minister, he was the publisher of a newspaper. He believes in press freedom.”
Speaking about the government’s performance, the additional press secretary said only six months had passed since the government took office and that many initiatives would take time to produce visible results.
“Everyone needs to be patient to see the benefits of the government’s initiatives,” he said.
He said the prime minister had been working from morning until evening and that the country’s gas and electricity situation was now largely under control.
“The government is working to ensure comfort and peace in people’s lives. We have to work shoulder to shoulder to build a better Bangladesh,” he said.
Prime Minister’s Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Deputy Press Secretaries Zahidul Islam Rony and Sujon Mahmud, and Assistant Press Secretary Nazmul Haque Khan were present at the press conference.
