Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman stated today that the government remains fully committed to upholding freedom of expression and fostering an environment conducive to a free media.
He made the remarks when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen met with him at his Secretariat office in Dhaka. State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury was also present during the discussions.
During the meeting, the US envoy offered his congratulations to Andaleeve Rahman on assuming his new ministerial role. Minister Andaleeve noted that the administration is actively working to instigate positive changes across both state administration and political culture.
As an example of this shift, he highlighted the recent broadcasting of opposition party news on state-run Bangladesh Television. At the same time, the minister underscored that necessary measures will be implemented to curb defamatory statements, misinformation, and disinformation across various digital platforms, including social media.
Ambassador Christensen emphasized the importance of broad stakeholder engagement in addressing these governance issues. Reflecting on past political conditions, Andaleeve remarked that experiences over the previous 17 years had been difficult, but the current administration is operating with sincere intentions to reform state governance.
State Minister Yasser Khan stressed the necessity of deploying effective initiatives to combat false propaganda, noting the potential applications of artificial intelligence in this effort. He pointed out that ordinary citizens suffer heavily from malicious online campaigns and called for measures to ensure online safety.
Ambassador Christensen observed that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States are steadily strengthening and expanding into new economic sectors, including trade and commerce. Highlighting ongoing international backing, he reaffirmed US economic support for the Rohingya population, including targeted health sector assistance to prevent infectious diseases.
Concluding the talks, Minister Andaleeve reiterated that the administration holds no intention of controlling the media, asserting that all steps are being taken with responsible intent to protect freedom of expression. Both sides also touched upon various other matters of mutual interest.
Why it matters
The meeting between Bangladesh's information minister and the US ambassador highlights diplomatic cooperation on media reforms, digital safety, and bilateral governance priorities.