Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan delivered the keynote address at a roundtable discussion organized at the Council Hall of the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh in Ramna, Dhaka today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, June 6, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today urged the country's ICT experts to quickly prepare and submit a draft of an effective national action plan to address cyber risks and ensure online safety. 

He made the call while addressing a roundtable discussion titled "Combating Fake News in Bangladesh: Policy, Technology and Accountability," organized by Nationalist ICT Forum (NICTF) at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the capital's Ramna.

Swapon said making fake news through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and spreading those through social media has emerged as one of the major strategic challenges.

Cyber risks and digital hazards are creating serious threats to individuals, society, and the state, he added. 

Addressing ICT professionals, the minister said the current government is engaging experts in policymaking more than before to build a knowledge-based state.

Referring to global efforts to hold technology giants such as Meta Platforms, Google, and X Corp. accountable and subject to regulation, Swapon said mainstream media organizations invest significant efforts in creating content but digital platforms profit from using that content without compensation. 

Countries around the world, including Australia, are now introducing laws requiring royalties to be paid to content creators, he said.

He emphasized the need to bring digital platforms in Bangladesh under a structured and accountable regulatory framework.

BNP's ICT Affairs Secretary AKM Wahiduzzaman, former MP and Engineers Association of Bangladesh (EAB) convener Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin also spoke, among others.

The event, moderated by senior leaders of the organization, was attended by leading ICT experts, researchers, and journalists from across the country.

Other speakers at the roundtable stressed the importance of using modern technological tools to identify propaganda and fake news circulating on social media. 

They also recommended strengthening the capacity of mainstream media and expanding digital literacy and information awareness among marginalized communities.