Government considering court permission provision for journalists: State Minister

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasher Khan Chowdhury has said the government's goal is to ensure media freedom. He said the government is considering a proposal to require court permission before bringing journalists under any law. At the same time, he said necessary measures will be taken to prevent the spread of false, untrue and disinformation.

He made these remarks in response to journalists' questions after a meeting with the executive committee of the Dhaka Reporters Unity at the Secretariat on Tuesday, September 29. He said journalist leaders presented various demands and proposals at the meeting. The government will work on how to implement them.

The State Minister for Information said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government believes in media freedom and necessary steps will be taken to continue this freedom. The government has no intention of controlling the media. However, discussions are ongoing with journalist leaders and media stakeholders on how to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

Regarding the proposal for court permission before taking legal action against journalists, Yasher Khan Chowdhury said consideration is being given to whether a provision can be kept requiring court permission before bringing journalists of registered electronic, print or online media under the law. If such a system exists, journalists will be able to work more freely.

However, he also cautioned about the misuse of journalist identity. He said some individuals who do not work in mainstream media are spreading propaganda and false information by identifying themselves as journalists. In particular, incidents of spreading false information through the misuse of artificial intelligence and defaming people are also occurring.

Regarding unregistered online news outlets, the State Minister said there is a difference between website-based news media and running a social media page to spread news. A definition and criteria are needed to determine who a real journalist is.