Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) have agreed to work together to prevent disinformation, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat said on Sunday.
The state minister was briefing reporters on his meeting with European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley at the Secretariat in the afternoon.
“As disinformation has emerged as a global challenge now, we have discussed how we can collaborate and support each other to prevent disinformation,” he said.
Arafat said disinformation and misinformation have exposed humanity to a risk.
About the types of EU support, the state minister said it will help Bangladesh by exchanging ideas and providing technological support.
“As it is a new phenomenon for the globe and no one has yet solved the problem, we are developing a partnership with the EU to find a mutual solution globally.”
He said the government wants to prevent disinformation without shrinking the space of press freedom.
The government wants a healthy environment everywhere: journalism, media space and politics.
“Democracy also means the rule of law. Democracy means freedom of everything, and the rule of law means I cannot do everything. A good balance of democracy and the rule of law is crucial.”
Arafat said they also exchanged views regarding professional hazards and risks faced by journalists of Bangladesh and EU countries while discharging their duties during wartime, calamities and precarious situations.
“I have talked about the scope of further improvement of the working environment for journalists in Bangladesh as we want to ensure a healthy atmosphere in politics as well as mass media,” he said.
The EU's existing support to Bangladesh and collaboration in various areas also came up in their discussion, Arafat said.
After the meeting, EU Ambassador Charles Whitley told journalists that the problem of disinformation is being addressed around the world, and the EU is also working on this issue.
