The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association has urged the government to take immediate measures to curb the spread of rumours and provocative content on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.
The association believes these efforts are critical to reducing the current socio-political unrest and its detrimental effects on the economy.
In a press statement, BMPCA president Mohiuddin Ahmed highlighted that since the interim government assumed office, the dissemination of unverified and incendiary content, originating both domestically and from abroad, had significantly contributed to instability.
‘This has hindered economic progress by affecting business activities and discouraging investment.’
Mohiuddin noted that content from certain foreign sources, including neighbouring countries’ media outlets and expatriates of Bangladeshi origin, aimed to provoke unrest and spread misinformation among citizens.
‘It is the government’s responsibility to ensure national security and stability by halting the dissemination of such content,’ he said, urging prompt action, especially during the transitional phase of revising the country’s digital and cyber security laws.
The association stressed that combating misinformation requires collective action from the government, regulatory bodies like BTRC and NTMC, mobile network operators, internet service providers, and other stakeholders.
They called for greater participation from both public and private sectors in raising awareness and maintaining societal harmony.
