Dhaka: State Minister for Information Tarana Halim on Wednesday said the government has taken an initiative to set up a monitoring cell ahead of the next general election aiming to identify rumours in social networking sites.

The ‘Rumour Identification and Removal Centre’ will be in operation 24 hours round the clock at the PID section of Information Ministry from this month, she told reporters at the Secretariat, reports the UNB.

The cell will continuously monitor different social networking sites and will inform local media through a press release within three hours if any rumour is found, she added.

‘The motorising cell will also inform media about the truth,’ she said.

The state minister also said that seven experts will be appointed for working in each shift.

‘BNP-Jammat has opened a publicity cell in London and spreading rumour from 300 websites,’ she informed.

Replying to a question, the Minister said the cell will be opened to raise awareness among people.

Referring to the Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Tarana said Bangabandhu-1, the country’s first ever communications satellite, made its debut with the live coverage of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2018 on BTV.

Besides, a letter was sent to private television channels requesting them to use Bangabandhu-1 as it is capable to provide service, she added.