Strategic Communication Summit Starts in Istanbul with Global Focus

The Strategic Communication Summit has begun in Istanbul at the invitation of the Government of Turkey. The international event, held on Thursday morning, March 27, at the Conrad Bosphorus Hotel, was inaugurated with an opening speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The keynote address was delivered by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. Ministers from various countries, modern media experts, and international communication analysts are participating in the summit.

Representing Bangladesh, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Zahir Uddin Swapan spoke at a panel discussion titled “A New Framework for the Global Order: A Strategic Communication Perspective.” He stated that in a densely populated and rapidly digitizing country like Bangladesh, tackling misinformation and disinformation remains a major challenge. Referring to past experiences, he noted that during fascist rule, information had been distorted to control the public, emphasizing the need to learn from such experiences and develop an effective framework for the future.

The Information Minister stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between access to information and the free flow of information in the digital age. He said that establishing a new, contemporary framework at both national and international levels would help combat misinformation effectively. He also mentioned that Bangladesh is eager to learn from the experiences of other countries and is committed to contributing its own experiences to the global knowledge base.

The panel also included the Vice President of Turkey as well as ministers from Northern Cyprus, Kazakhstan, and Syria. In his remarks, Zahir Uddin Swapan highlighted the necessity of a technology-driven strategic communication framework. He said that the exchange of experience and technology would help build an effective strategic communication structure in the future and contribute to global peace and prosperity.

International media are viewing the summit as a significant step toward shaping a new perspective on regional and global communication. The remarks of Bangladesh’s Information Minister underscored that technology-based solutions are key to combating misinformation and strengthening global cooperation.

DBTech/SMS/EK/OR