Freedom of speech must not be abused with misinformation: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked all concerned to highlight the facts of any incident alongside protesting the spread of rumours and misinformation in the name of freedom of speech.

"Spreading propaganda is not freedom of speech…there should be immediate protests against any false information….people must know the facts. Staying silent will not help," she said at the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet at Bangladesh Secretariat. The PM chaired the meeting from her official residence Gono Bhaban through videoconferencing.

"A section of people is trying to spread rumours to taint the government's image, but they will never succeed in fulfilling their ill motives," she said.

She said in this era of digitisation one cannot just write and publish whatever he or she wants in the name of freedom of speech.

"On social media, anyone can say whatever he/she likes…one can spread propaganda. When the government takes any step against them, certain quarters raise hue and cry and spread various arguments across the globe," she said.

Hasina said people usually do not look into why the stepswere taken.

On the other hand, she mentioned, it is also essential for the authorities concerned to provide facts and information with necessary explanations.

In this regard, the prime minister said the mentality of taking a defensive stance without giving appropriate information is not a good practice.

She said those who do not like the development of the country and want Bangladesh to remain dependent on others are committing these misdeeds.