Race for breaking news causes misinformation

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the race to be first in publishing news sometimes causes false and wrong information, which leads to unrest.

He said this while inaugurating nine-hour telecast of Chattogram Centre of Bangladesh Television at Khulshi in the port city.

Hasan said private televisions began their journey through the initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Being a media-friendly person, the PM issued licences to 44 TV channels, among which 33 are telecasting,” he said.

The minister said publication of newspapers in the last ten years increased by 40 percent, while online-based news portal flourished remarkably.

Competition among the peers also intensified, he observed. “There is a tendency among media houses to let people know the news first, a race which sometimes causes false and wrong information leading to unrest,” he continued.

Hasan Mahmud underlined the need to formulate a policy to contain such practice.

He also said plans are on to bring Youtube channels which broadcast news under the policy.

Mentioning steps taken by the PM to bail out the film industry, Hasan said a unit of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) will be set up in Chattogram.

BTV Chattogram centre earlier used to broadcast six hours of programme every day. From now on, it will telecast nine hours.

“Within three month of assuming office, I elevated Chattogram Centre to nine hours, and expect to take it to 12 hours by December this year,” he promised.

City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and Information Secretary Abdul Malek were present, among others, at the programme.