Action for anti-state propaganda from abroad: PM

In a strict warning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has informed the House that the government is working to ensure punishment for those who are engaged in spreading propaganda against the country and the government, from abroad.

"The government has been working to bring those, who are engaged in anti-government activities, provocative and fabricated statements (staying abroad), to book and ensure punishment," she said.

The premier was replying to a question from Awami League lawmaker Nur Uddin Chowdhary Nayan from Laxmipur-2 constituency during the question-answer session in the House on Wednesday, reports BSS.

In the past, she urged everyone to remain vigilant as a vested quarter is spreading false propaganda against Bangladesh both at home and abroad.

On Wednesday, PM Hasina said the expatriate Bangladeshis brighten the name and image of Bangladesh through their positive activities in the host countries alongside sending remittance. They can play role to protect the interests of Bangladesh staying in the host countries, she added.

"But unfortunately some people among the expatriate Bangladeshis are engaged in spreading propaganda against the country and the government, while staying abroad," she added.

She also mentioned a number of steps taken to brighten the image of Bangladesh and stop propaganda in foreign countries.

Sheikh Hasina said plans have been taken and regular efforts continue to publish factual news and articles in international media regularly for depicting the positive image of Bangladesh and facing propaganda.

If an untrue and propaganda story is published in the international media, the public diplomacy wing of Foreign Ministry sends objective and factual rejoinder to the media, she said.

The fabricated and baseless social media posts of those who spread propaganda are monitored, she added.

On October 27, the parliamentary standing committee on the foreign affairs ministry was told that the government will bring to book the expatriates who are involved in anti- government activities abroad.

Earlier, in the previous meeting of the committee, the parliamentary watchdog recommended increasing the activities of the Bangladesh missions abroad against anti-national propaganda outside the country and to identify the people involved in such "misdeeds".

Prior to that, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on October 19 said that the government is mulling of a crackdown on the circulation of misinformation online from abroad.