1,000+ internet hotspots launched in haor areas alongside integrated toll tag system

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Advisor Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman stated that in today's technological era, the public may access diverse information via foreign outlets or online platforms, but that does not grant legal validity to local media for broadcasting statements by convicted fugitive Sheikh Hasina under strict court restrictions. He warned that relevant media outlets would be formally notified to refrain from such actions, and the government may consider strict legal measures if necessary.

The Advisor made these remarks while addressing journalists at a regular press briefing held at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) in the Secretariat, in the presence of Chief Information Officer Syeda Abdal Ahmed.

Highlighting digital connectivity and technical transformations, the Advisor noted, "To ensure high-speed internet availability in marginalized haor and wetland regions, more than 1,000 internet hotspots have already been operationalized, and the network is expanding. Furthermore, the government is working to integrate an electronic toll collection system using a unified integrated tag across all toll plazas in the communication sector."

Responding to queries regarding the potential operations of the Awami League under a reformed name, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman made it clear, saying, "As long as the political activities of the Awami League are banned, they have no scope to run programs under any banner, whether it's 'Reformed Awami League' or 'Trinamool Awami League.' The ban remains active under the amended provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009."

Regarding the Teesta mega-plan with China, the Information Advisor shared that the government is redesigning the master plan. Focusing heavily on water conservation, monsoon management, and irrigation alongside river training, the state plans to build a new barrage adjacent to the existing one. China will assist in technical and feasibility studies, though funding details remain open. He reassured that this sovereign decision based on national interest would not negatively impact India-Bangladesh relations.

Addressing Transparency International Bangladesh's (TIB) latest report detailing BDT 12,633 crore in bribery and corruption across service sectors over the past year, Dr. Zahed stated, "This massive corruption was not committed by the advisers of the interim government, but we also do not claim that corruption has completely vanished under our tenure. Corruption is a criminal offense with no statute of limitations. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is a fully independent body, and it should investigate complaints across all regimes—be it the interim government, the Awami League era, or our period—without any state interference."

//DBTech/SI/IH//