Nahid promises justice, compensation for victims of minority abuse

Those involved in the recent incidents of minority abuse after August 5 will be brought to justice, and the affected minority communities will be compensated, said Nahid Islam, Adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

He made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by UNESCO Bangladesh Representative Dr. Susan Weiss, held at his office in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Nahid Islam highlighted the spread of misinformation on social media and international platforms aimed at discrediting Bangladesh‍‍`s movements and the current government. He stressed that this propaganda is part of a deliberate effort to create controversy. He urged everyone to remain vigilant against such disinformation.

The adviser further mentioned that several journalists were injured during the movement, and compensation will be provided to them. He also noted that some journalists had acted in collaboration with what he termed a "fascist government," leading to legal actions against them in various parts of the country. Many have been arrested, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formed a committee to ensure their legal rights, providing them with the necessary legal assistance.

UNESCO Bangladesh Representative Dr. Susan Weiss expressed interest in collaborating with Bangladesh on artificial intelligence (AI). She sought the adviser‍‍`s approval to continue the AI Research Activities and Monitoring (AI RAM) project, which assesses the country‍‍`s capacity to apply artificial intelligence.

In response, Nahid Islam emphasized the significance of AI for Bangladesh and its necessity to keep pace with modern advancements. He confirmed that the Information Technology Division would provide full support to the AI RAM project and mentioned that the National Steering Committee would review the project.

UNESCO Policy Analyst Afzal Hossain Sarwar, A2I Program Project Director Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, and UNDP Bangladesh Senior Governance Specialist Sheila Tasnim Haque were present at the meeting.