Govt to form legal panel to tackle deepfakes, cyberbullying

Speaking at the weekly press briefing at the Secretariat, Zahed said all administrative procedures for establishing the panel have been completed, with only the official government notification remaining.

"The notification is expected within the next one or two days," he said.

According to the adviser, the government has already completed the entire selection process, including issuing the notice, receiving applications, interviewing candidates and conducting verification.

Legal support for victims

Zahed said the rapid growth of social media has been accompanied by an increase in the spread of disinformation, coordinated smear campaigns, manipulated images and videos, and the misuse of deepfake technology.

"These activities not only damage individuals' reputations but also create social instability and pose risks to public safety," he said.

He noted that women are among the most frequent victims of cyberbullying, often facing abusive comments, threats, online harassment and fabricated images or videos intended to humiliate them.

To address these challenges, the government has decided to establish the legal panel under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Unlike conventional legal support mechanisms, the panel will be empowered not only to pursue cases based on complaints but also to initiate legal action on its own when necessary. It will also handle cases considered important in the public interest.

"The main objective is to ensure legal protection for ordinary citizens and provide prompt assistance to victims," Zahed said.

He urged anyone subjected to cyberbullying, deepfakes, disinformation or other forms of online harassment to report the incidents to the relevant authorities.

Responsible use of social media

While acknowledging that social media has expanded freedom of expression, Zahed stressed that users also have a responsibility to verify information before sharing it.

He noted that unlike mainstream media, which follows editorial verification processes, social media allows unverified information to spread instantly.

"The government has a responsibility to raise awareness, but citizens must also act responsibly," he said.

Reaffirming the government's position, Zahed said those who deliberately create or spread deepfakes, disinformation or cyberbullying content to mislead the public or harass individuals would face legal action under existing laws.

Dengue cases decline

Providing updates on government activities, Zahed said dengue infections have declined significantly compared with the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh recorded 10,857 dengue cases as of July 20 this year, down from 17,218 during the corresponding period in 2025. Deaths also fell to 37 from 62 over the same period.

Although every death is regrettable, he said the figures reflected improvements resulting from coordinated government efforts.

Energy, food safety and expatriate services

On energy, Zahed said the government had finalized a list of 40 companies through an international competitive process to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the spot market.

He added that 29 of the planned 150 onshore gas wells had already been completed, producing about 270.8 million cubic feet of gas, with 125.3 million cubic feet already supplied to the national grid.

The remaining wells are expected to be completed by 2030, potentially adding another 1,491 million cubic feet of gas and strengthening the country's long-term energy security.

The adviser also announced that the Safe Food Regulations 2026 had been issued. Under the new rules, businesses involved in food production, import, processing, storage, transportation and marketing will be required to register, while regular mobile courts and market inspections will continue to ensure food safety.

On expatriate welfare, he said the government would launch the Probashi Card on a pilot basis in mid-August. Initially to be issued through state-owned banks, the debit card will provide expatriates with access to at least 10 government services. The government plans to distribute 50,000 cards by December and 200,000 by June next year before transferring the programme to Probashi Kallyan Bank.

Environment and industry

Zahed said the government is promoting environmentally friendly jute bags as an alternative to polythene, with affordable bags already being distributed in Dhaka markets. Mobile courts will continue to conduct drives against environmental pollution.

He also said 16 of the 25 mills under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) had been approved for operation under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

The initiative is expected to attract private investment, improve productivity, reduce government subsidies and protect existing jobs, he added.