POBNEWS24, Sep 14, 2021 :Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that social media including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube did not pay much attention to Bangladesh at one time. Now they are listening to us, holding regular meetings. They are even paying VAT in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh.
“The day may not be far off when these social media, including Facebook, will come under our control,” he added. Although the issue is a big challenge for us. Even after that, the present government is trying its best to face this challenge.
Various ‘offensive’ content including ‘anti-government and anti-state’ is being spread on social media including Facebook. What kind of steps is the government taking in this regard? He said this in response to such a question.
Mustafa Jabbar said, “We have gained a lot of skills in these areas now.” We now know who is carrying out such propaganda from abroad. I had the opportunity to speak formally for the first time at an international conference with Facebook authorities in February 2016 after I took office. There was talk of raising some demands and overall issues. They have also shown a positive attitude towards these issues.
“Currently, our relationship with them is such that they meet with us every week, talking every day,” he said. He is also responding to everything I report. There is one female officer in charge of Facebook in Bangladesh, one each in Singapore and Delhi; Our BTRC officials are talking to each of them about various issues. At one time they may not have noticed any of us. Now it has come to a much better place.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications further said that at one time there was no one on Facebook who could understand Bangla language and could not remove Bangla content. Now they have people who understand Bengali language. They can understand Bengali content and can move it. Now we are also communicating with them directly on the phone. We have expanded the monitoring system through BTRC. Trying to collect some more equipment.
“I hope that the day may not be far off when we can bring them under better control,” he added. In the present situation, it is within a control. But the most threatening thing for us is that JMB, IS, Taliban, whatever they say, are using these social media as a platform. Many are personally using these as a platform for propaganda against important people including ministers and MPs, starting from the top person of the government. These misdeeds cannot be done in the regular media. We are talking to them regularly about these controls. At one time I didn’t pay attention but now I am communicating regularly. They are also paying us VAT.
The Minister said that some people have opposed Bangladesh since its inception and are still doing so. As it is inside the country, it is also abroad. They were never silent. They are deliberately campaigning for the government and important leaders of the government and for terrorism, anarchy, communalism. If we do such work in the country, we can easily identify and bring it under the law. But catching those who are doing this abroad is a big challenge.
Mustafa Jabbar said, “We can block websites, pages or accounts promoting various ‘offensive’ content, including ‘anti-government and anti-state’, at any time in Bangladesh, but not in foreign countries.” After I took charge, I closed 22,000 porn sites and 6,000 fake sites through a project. In addition, more than 1,100 malicious websites have been shut down. I think they have played an important role in maintaining the integrity of the country. If we receive any anti-national content, anti-personal, defamatory information or any specific allegation from any account, site, YouTube channel of the country, we are brought under the law through the concerned agencies including the law enforcement agencies.
