Respond to anti-govt propaganda with development updates: Sajeeb Wazed

"You (AL MPs) have to showcase and portray the development activities of the government in social media to fight back the anti-government propaganda," he told the launching of a three-day workshop on "Role of Members of Parliament in Social Media" at the party president's political office at Dhanmondi.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader inaugurated the workshop while State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak addressed it, among others.

Joy, also son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and grandson of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said AL leaders and workers should not sit idle assuming that people will cast their vote for them because of good works.

"It is an era of publicity . . . we will have to publicize our development activities to fight the dissemination of misinformation against us," he said.

He added: "Only work is not enough rather we have to make the public know that what we are doing for their welfare."

Joy highlighted different development activities of the government including distribution of 32 crore copies of textbooks, implementation of Digital Bangladesh, Padma bridge construction and electricity generation.

"Even after doing so many things (for the development of the country), the government has to tolerate propaganda," he said adding such propaganda against Awami League is going on continuously since the August 15, 1975 carnage.

Joy urged the AL lawmakers to post their development activities in social media every day.

"Make at least a single post on the social media every day. Share our (AL social media) posts in your account," he said and assured them of extending of required technical assistance in using social media.

"If you do not feel comfort in social media, appoint a PS who will post development activities on social media," Joy said.

Addressing on the occasion, Obaidul Quader termed BNP's vision 2030 as a mockery with the people. "BNP's vision 2030 is nothing but a mockery . . . it is a new travesty with the people," he said.

He said BNP established "Hawa Bhaban" as alternative 'power house' after assuming power.

"This vision 2030 is taken to make another Hawa Bhaban," he said. Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, senior analyst of Center for Research and Information (CRI) and member of the newly constituted Central Publicity and Publications Sub-Committee of Awami League, gave a presentation on effective social media strategies for parliamentarians and politicians.

He said the presentation aimed to orient the participants in maximizing their reach and engagement with their respective constituents. CRI's assistant coordinator Tonmoy Ahmed made another presentation at the opening session of the three-day workshop organized by Awami League with technical and knowledge assistance from Center for Research and Information.

Some 50 lawmakers of Awami League are taking part in the workshop today while 100 others will join tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in the three-day conference.