DHAKA, May 21, (V7N) – Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring media freedom, announcing that work has already begun to form a Media Commission.
He made the remarks during a courtesy call by British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke at his office in the Secretariat. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury, MP, was also present. Swapon sought cooperation from the United Kingdom, noting that the experience of the UK’s media regulator Ofcom could be utilized in formulating Bangladesh’s media sector policies. Cooke assured full cooperation and briefed him on Ofcom’s activities.
Later, Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli also met the minister, congratulating him on his new role. Swapon reiterated that while the government is committed to media freedom, it also aims to protect citizens from misinformation and disinformation. He emphasized the importance of Switzerland’s modern experience and technological assistance in tackling these challenges.
State Minister Yasser Khan Choudhury highlighted the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence, saying it has opened new possibilities but also created global challenges in information verification and security. He called for collective efforts to address these issues and invited Swiss investment in Bangladesh’s potential sectors.
These meetings underscore Bangladesh’s intent to build an independent Media Commission while drawing on international expertise to balance freedom of expression with safeguards against misinformation in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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