Govt to watch news media

The government has moved to set up a “media monitoring centre” to keep an eye on news items published in different media, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu told parliament yesterday.

But he did not clarify how and when it will be set up or how it will operate. Comments from ministry officials were not immediately available.  

Replying to lawmakers' queries, Inu said a section of the media and blogs were trying to create divisions in the society by writing against different religions and beliefs.

Ruling Awami League MP Pinu Khan claimed some online newspapers, social media and blogs were trying hard to destabilise the country by using religion. She sought to know what measures the information ministry would take to thwart the “conspiracy”.

In reply, Inu said the government had taken a very hard stance against any provocation or “conspiracy” to hurt religious sentiment and to create anarchy. 

“The government has taken various measures to tackle such conspiracies,” Inu added.

On surveillance of online-based news portals, the minister said online media would be brought under registration and that work was underway to formulate a guideline in this regard.

In the wake of the recent spate of killings of bloggers, writers, university professors and secular activists, several ministers earlier said that some people were writing objectionable stuff about different religions and beliefs in the name of   secularism.

They warned that the government would not tolerate hurting any religion this way.