State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury spoke at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) session. Photo: Video Screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 2, 2026 (BSS) - The government has developed an integrated fact-checking and information verification framework to identify and prevent false and misleading information that spreads rapidly on social media.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury said this in Jatiya Sangsad today on behalf of Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman while replying to a starred question from opposition lawmaker Md Rashedul Islam Rashed of Sherpur-1 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad during the day's question-answer session.

With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the minister said the Press Information Department (PID), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has already developed the integrated fact-checking and information verification framework. A central "Fact-checking and Rumour 
Prevention Committee" remains operational round the clock at the PID headquarters.

He said, under the committee's guidance, the PID headquarters and its Regional Information Offices (RIOs) in divisional cities regularly monitor social media and online platforms.

"When misinformation and rumours are identified quickly, arrangements are made to disseminate government fact-check messages containing objective information and clarification notices through the websites and social media platforms of the PID and RIOs, as well as through the mass media," he said.

The Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), another agency under the ministry, also conducts fact-checking and media analysis activities to prevent rumours and misleading information on social media.

He said PIB's fact-checking unit "BanglaFact" has so far published 860 fact-checks, analyses, investigative reports, videos and reels. Of these, 306 fact-checks, analyses, investigative reports, videos and reels have been published since the incumbent government assumed office.

The training programmes are also being conducted to enhance journalists' capacity to counter rumours and misleading information.

He said 141 training workshops were organised in all 64 districts from October 1, 2024 to June 2026, providing training to 6,774 journalists. Since the incumbent government took office, 20 training programmes have trained 739 journalists.

Of these programmes, 14 focused on digital journalism, artificial intelligence (AI) and fact-checking, he said, adding that such training would gradually be organised in every district of the country.

He further said every training programme organised by PIB over the past two years included at least one day of training on ways to combat rumours, fact-checking and the use of AI in journalism.

The BanglaFact has identified 137 fake Facebook accounts, pages and groups operated using the name and photographs of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

It has also identified 16 websites that disseminate propaganda and misinformation by imitating newspapers and television channels. In addition, more than 300 Facebook accounts and 100 X (formerly Twitter) accounts that spread misleading and false information have been identified.

The BanglaFact currently verifies an average of three to five claims every day and publishes reports, reels and videos on the findings.

He said coordinated monitoring by government agencies, rapid information verification and efforts to provide objective information to the public would continue to prevent the spread of false, misleading and disinformation on social media.