Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus today called upon the countrymen to resist rumours through awareness and greater unity, describing it as the ‘main instrument’ of the defeated forces against the July uprising. ‘We have to resist rumour with our consciousness and greater unity,’ he said in a televised national address ahead of the Great Independence Day and Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Adviser highlighted that a widespread campaign of spreading rumours through mass media and social media has been ongoing since the interim government assumed power. He expressed concerns about the continued efforts to mislead the nation by spreading false information using new techniques. Yunus cautioned about the innovative methods being used to spread rumours, such as combining pictures from different incidents and using social media to present events from other countries as domestic occurrences. He warned that these activities could become more dangerous as the election approaches.
Yunus emphasized that the individuals responsible for spreading these rumours are known. The Chief Adviser mentioned seeking cooperation from the United Nations to stop the spread of rumours and fake information, and the UN Secretary General assured Bangladesh of support in this regard. He reminded the nation of the successful completion of the first phase of the July uprising and the commencement of the second phase.
‘We have to always remember that we’re in a war situation. The rumour is a big weapon of the defeated forces against the July uprising,’ Yunus stated. He advised people to investigate the roots of any rumours they encounter and not to dismiss them, as the main target is to thwart the July uprising. Yunus insisted that the nation should not allow this to happen.
The Chief Adviser also noted that the greater unity among the people is causing irritation to the defeated forces, who aim to disrupt this unity. He warned that their innovative techniques make it difficult to realize when one is being manipulated.