Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Thursday stressed the need for taking a joint initiative between Bangladesh and Egypt in combating misinformation and disinformation in the digital age.

The minister came up with the importance when Egyptian Ambassador to Bangladesh Omar Mohie Eldin Ahmed Fahmy paid a courtesy call on him at his Secretariat office.

During the meeting, Swapon presented the incumbent government’s thoughts on media management and various activities before the ambassador.

At the same time, he said, ensuring freedom of expression is also very important.

The minister expressed interest in further strengthening media cooperation between the two countries.

The Egyptian envoy mentioned the good historical relations between the two countries and expressed interest in working closely with the Bangladesh government to further enhance relations.

He put emphasis on increasing direct people-to-people contact between the two countries to strengthen relations.

During the meeting, the ambassador proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state media outlets of the two countries and forming a ‘Bangladesh-Egypt Joint Media Forum’ to enhance mutual cooperation in the media sector.