Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), in collaboration with the US Department of State, arranged a dialogue titled "Confronting Misinformation in Bangladesh". The discussion was held at theCity Inn hotel in Khulna on 22 February, 2023. This dialogue was the second of a series of dialogues and training sessions under a joint project by CGS and the US Department of State. The project aims to organize a series of dialogues with senior editors, journalists, professional fact-checkers and social media influencers to understand how misinformation is reproduced and recirculated in Bangladesh.
Present at the event were members of various media organizations in Bangladesh. The key speakers at the dialogue were: S M Nazrul Islam, President, Khulna Press Club, Editor, AjkerTathyo and Qadaruddin Shishir, Fact Check Editor, AFP
According to S M Nazrul Islam, the Digital Security Act is harassing journalists. The voice of the journalist is suppressed by political mechanisms. The general public doesn't trust media anymore because it is now people who speak the truth, and it is the media that spreads the misinformation. The general public now relies on social media and YouTube for news, which doesn't have any accountability. He also added that journalists in no position can disclose the source because disclosing the source will make the upcoming news from that particular source unavailable for them.
Qadaruddin Shishir stated that "What is the position of Bangladesh in the misinformation world can be answered by what is the main source of misinformation in Bangladesh, which is 'social media' in general opinion. Unfortunately, newspapers or news media are the most influential medium of misinformation. The information the general public receives from mass media is largely controlled by politicians, researchers, and businesspeople. Journalists may not be able to solve the dilemma of allegedly published false information because of a shadow mechanism working behind. But the publication of news based on a lack of proper investigation or adequate knowledge of the particular topic can be prevented.
He also added that News related to religious sentiment, which can induce fear and protest among intolerant groups, is harmful for human security and national security.
