Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon, met with the Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mel Joris van Bommel, at the ministry office in Dhaka on Wednesday. The ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and highlighted the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has expanded across education, health, development, and trade. He expressed interest in further strengthening this partnership.

Minister Swapon said the current government is working to bring qualitative changes in its operations and expressed interest in collaborating with the Netherlands in media and communication sectors. He noted that new media, artificial intelligence, and the digital ecosystem have created emerging challenges in the information age. The minister emphasized the state’s responsibility to ensure freedom of expression while protecting citizens from misinformation and disinformation, calling for a clear strategy in this regard.

The Dutch ambassador underscored the importance of developing new frameworks to address digital challenges and briefed the minister on the Netherlands’ initiatives in this area.