Media responsibility key to people’s understanding: Info Minister

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Friday said people’s correct understanding of state affairs depends on how responsibly and accurately the media performs its duties, warning that distorted information breeds confusion, conflict and anarchy in society.

Speaking as chief guest at the Annual General Meeting 2026 and Silver Jubilee programme of the Law Reporters Forum (LRF) at the Supreme Court Bar Association building, the minister said citizens depend on journalists not only for information but also for accurate reporting on judicial transparency, calling media the fourth pillar of the state.

Referring to artificial intelligence, he said AI has created new global realities, enabling fake images and videos that look real, and called for swift legal reform to address the challenge.

He said the government has formed a cabinet committee, comprising the foreign, home and ICT ministers along with him, to reform the country’s cyber law, and urged law reporters and legal experts to extend cooperation.

LRF President Hasan Zabed presided over the event, moderated by General Secretary Monirujjaman Mission. Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal and BNP law affairs secretary Barrister Badruddoza Badal were among the speakers.