The social media rumour detection and monitoring cell will start its activities within this month, said State Minister for Information Tarana Halim.
She informed that the government has formed a nine-member social media rumour detection and monitoring centre headed by the deputy principal information officer of Press Information Department.
The state minister gave the information while talking to the newsmen at the conference room of her ministry after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday, reports BSS.
“The cell comprised representatives from PID is likely to start monitoring the social networking sites round-the-clock by this month to prevent all sorts of rumours,” she said.
Tarana said a high-powered observation committee would be formed to oversee the activities of the cell.
“The cell has been entrusted with the task of informing the media which one is rumour and its main challenge will be to detect rumours,” she said.
The state minister explained that false or untrue, or exaggeration of information which can destroy communal harmony, hamper state security or push the country into an awkward situation and divert a movement into another direction will be treated as rumours.
“Information ministry will later forward the detected list of rumours to Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission via Post and Telecommunications Ministry to filter those. We can do it weekly or daily considering their importance,” the state minister added.
“A collective effort from the law enforcement and intelligence agencies, concerned ministries and organisations is needed to do the work properly,” she added.
Among others, Information Secretary Abdul Malek, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, and representatives from different ministries and law enforcement and intelligence agencies were present at the meeting.