The government has no intention or plan to control the media and remains committed to ensuring press freedom, Information and Broadcasting Minister Andalib Rahman has said.

He made the remarks on Monday (October 5) during a courtesy meeting with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Bangladesh Secretariat. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury was also present.

During the meeting, Cook congratulated Andalib Rahman on assuming office. The minister said the government is committed to protecting freedom of expression for journalists while also ensuring that the public is protected from misinformation and disinformation.

He also stressed the need for effective measures against defamatory and misleading content published through traditional media and social media platforms.

State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury said protecting people’s rights should be given equal importance alongside media freedom. He added that the government is regularly engaging with stakeholders on the issue.

Referring to various government initiatives aimed at ensuring journalists’ financial security, he also called on media owners to play a responsible role in this regard.

British High Commissioner Sarah Cook emphasised the importance of maintaining ethical standards in journalism alongside ensuring freedom of expression. She also stressed the role of fact-checking in combating misinformation and disinformation.

She said there was scope for cooperation between the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this area.

The meeting also discussed challenges posed by social media, ensuring the accuracy of information and promoting responsible media practices, among other issues.