Secretary Seeks Support to Stop Misinformation

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana has called on media professionals to support government efforts in countering rumours and misinformation.

She made the appeal on Friday, January 9, while inaugurating a two-day training programme on election-related journalism organised by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) at its seminar hall.

Addressing journalists as “co-combatants,” Farzana said their sharp and responsible writing is urgently needed. “We seek your cooperation to prevent rumours and misinformation. Let your strong hands join our softer ones. If we move forward hand in hand, the country will progress towards a proper and positive outcome,” she said, adding that journalists can play a crucial role in raising voter awareness about the referendum.

The secretary noted that nearly 40 percent of people at the grassroots level are unfamiliar with the concept of a referendum. To address this gap, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is using multimedia platforms to conduct ‘Votalap’ courtyard meetings and 10-minute briefings across 495 upazilas in all 64 districts. She added that the ministry’s ‘Tathya Apa’ initiative is also teaching referendum procedures using mobile phones.

Highlighting various initiatives to encourage voter participation among youth, ethnic minorities and women, Farzana said special measures have been taken to motivate around 12,000 women from Chandpur who have previously abstained from voting.

The programme was chaired by PIB Director Kazi Mohammad Touhidul Anwar and attended by Joint Secretary Riasatul Wasif, senior trainer Golam Murshed, among others.

In his welcome speech, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Technology and Training Secretary Mahmud Sohel said DRU members work extensively at the grassroots level and therefore require more training on elections, artificial intelligence and fact-checking. He expressed hope that PIB and DRU would work together more closely in the future.

A total of 50 journalists from print, electronic and online media outlets are participating in the workshop. The first day’s training session was conducted by Ziaur Rahman, chief trainer of News Network.

DBTech/EK/MU/OR