DHAKA, Feb 22, 2024 (BSS) – State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today said that the government wanted to challenge misinformation and disinformation with true information.

He said this in an interview with visiting Garman journalists at his ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here this noon, said an official release.

The journalists included Richard Beil, Michael Stang, Susann Kreutzmann, Aljoscha Hartmann, Julia Theres Held, Natalie Mayroth and Benjamin Bernd Thomas.

Asked about Bangladesh recent reaction over Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) latest report and ranking on Bangladesh’s press freedom released in 2023, Arafat said, “I did not criticize the report and ranking published on the RSF website, but presented factual information as the report is available on the website till 2024.”

The RSF report contains many wrong information, he said, adding, “In counter, I have presented the true information to the media with evidence and sent a letter to RSF in this regard.
 
“Our intention is to uphold the truth to RSF and re-evaluate the ranking,” he said.

State minister Arafat told the German journalists that the present government of Bangladesh always welcomes constructive criticism.
“Sometimes, some people criticize the government with ill-intention and they use all types of misinformation to malign the government,” he said.

Welcoming the media’s all positive criticism, Arafat said if media criticizes us with proper evidence, it helps us to take corrective measures.
“But criticizing something with wrong information does not help anyone,” he said.

Noting the background of enacting the Digital Security Act-2018 the state minister said the law was framed aimed at ensuring public safety in the digital world.

But in the backdrop of the criticism over its misuse, the government scraped it, opting liberal Cyber Security Act in 2023, he said.

“It is the spirit of the our government,” Arafat said adding, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always followed accommodative and corrective ways in line with the public demand.

Responding to German journalists’ queries about Bangladesh’s preparedness on climate change issues, Arafat said Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world.

“We have formulated necessary adaptation and mitigation plans to address the impacts of climate change along with a 100-year Delta Plan to ensure the country’s socio-economic development for a long perspective,” the state minister said.

In this regard Arafat mentioned about the huge housing projects undertaken by the government for rehabilitation of the people displaced by climate induced events.

The state minister underscored the need for more research and action programmes to address the risks of climate change saying Bangladesh is always vocal in international forums on the issue.

“International community should come forward with more support and realistic solutions to deal with the climate risks,” the state minister observed.

Replying about the Rohingya issue, Arafat said Bangladesh has shown utmost sympathy to the forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens.
Currently, the Rohingyas have emerged as a cause of major pressure on densely populated Bangladesh, he said.

“Bangladesh wants the Rohingyas to go back to their homeland with dignity,” Arafat said adding that the whole world should share the responsibility and the developed countries should play a role for their safe repatriation.

The international community should continue to mount pressure on Myanmar to take back their citizens to their home, the state minister said.