Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government will form an independent media commission to ensure media freedom and protect digital audiences from misinformation. He made the statement on Monday, May 11, at the inauguration of the online newspaper Asia Post held at Bengal Centre on Topkhana Road in Dhaka. The minister said the commission would be created through participation from all stakeholders, not imposed from above, to guarantee citizens’ right to information.

During his speech, Swapan highlighted that while the era of free information flow brings opportunities, it also increases the risks of misinformation. He emphasized that safeguarding digital viewers from false information has become a major challenge. The minister also sought cooperation from all media outlets, including Asia Post, in addressing new crises emerging from artificial intelligence technologies.

Asia Post editor Palash Mahmud urged the government to introduce a worker-friendly policy for online media, noting that despite registration processes, no formal policy exists for employees in this sector.