Fact-Check Front: Government Gears Up to Fight Falsehoods Ahead of National Election
The interim government is planning to develop an integrated database combining verified content from government and private fact-checking organizations, ensure rapid dissemination of fact-checked information, and enhance public awareness to counter misinformation and disinformation. The initiative also includes raising awareness among citizens through mass media, online platforms, and SMS—jointly led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the ICT Division.
On Monday, 17 November, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to formulate coordinated, modern, and proactive measures to prevent the spread of misinformation, rumors, and misleading content ahead of the upcoming national elections.
The meeting was presided over by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury, Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana, PIB Director General Faruq Wasif, and others were present.
Representatives from BTRC, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, DGFI, NSI, NTM C, DB, the Department of Information, Department of Mass Communication, DMP, the Department of Telecommunications, PIB, and several fact-checker groups also attended the meeting.
In his address, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb stated that ensuring accurate information flow during the election period is crucial for upholding democracy and maintaining a peaceful environment. He added that misinformation is no longer confined to social media; it can also undermine national security, social stability, and public trust in the electoral process. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of technological capacity, human resource development, and swift response mechanisms.
The Special Assistant highlighted the need for technological solutions to combat misinformation. He also mentioned forming committees at district and upazila levels to mitigate misinformation and disinformation through inter-agency coordination during the election period.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana noted that during the election period, mosques, temples, churches, and all religious institutions across the country should conduct awareness discussions on misinformation and disinformation. She also stressed raising awareness among school teachers, madrasa teachers, and mosque imams.
PIB Director General Faruq Wasif stated that misinformation cannot be countered by “damage control” alone. Therefore, he recommended that during the election period the ICT Division focus on technical solutions, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting develop public awareness content.
An NTM C representative informed the meeting that a Social Media Monitoring Cell has already begun operations to combat misinformation and disinformation. He suggested broadcasting daily fact-checks on electronic media and displaying awareness content on digital display boards across the country.
Similarly, the Director General of the Mass Communication Department discussed nationwide election-related communication through district and upazila information offices. However, a representative from "Bangla Fact" under PIB highlighted manpower shortages as an obstacle to completing operations effectively.
Participants shared their experiences, challenges, and recommendations. They also suggested activating direct communication channels with decision-makers from platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X, and TikTok to ensure rapid content removal or verification.
Speakers emphasized that maintaining a peaceful and credible electoral environment requires joint efforts from government agencies, the media, technology companies, and the general public. They expressed hope that coordinated efforts would effectively curb the spread of misinformation and create a festive environment for the election.
The meeting concluded with a decision to develop an inter-agency action plan and hold regular review sessions to evaluate progress.
DBTech/JEU/EQ/OR
