Information Ministry has formed a nine-member monitoring cell ahead of the polls to detect rumours spreading through social media platforms, in particular— Facebook, says its state minister Tarana Halim.

The rumour monitoring cell will be operational from October, she said during a meeting between her ministry officials and members of the law enforcement agencies on Tuesday.

Elaborating on measures upon detection of rumours, she said, “Information will be forwarded to the relevant police station and they will update the ministry following a primary investigation.”

“The intelligence officials will be brought in to dig further information before the ministry moves to recommend taking down of a page to BTRC,” she added.

“About 300 social media pages are being used to spread anti-government propaganda which often contains rumours,” said the state minister for information.