Dhaka:Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury, stated that the people are fully enjoying their constitutional right to freedom of expression following the ousting of the Awami League from power through a mass uprising on August 5, 2024.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kader Gani Chowdhury made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a three-day training program for BSS journalists on multimedia, artificial intelligence (AI), and fact-checking, organized by Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) at the BSS head office.
PIB Director General Faruk Wasif chaired the program, which was attended by BSS Managing Editor Fazlul Huq, Chief News Editor (English) Manikul Azad, Chief News Editor (Bangla) Mursalin Nomani, Chief Reporter (English) G. M. Rajib Hossain, Chief Reporter (Bangla) Didarul Alam, and PIB trainer Zilhaj Uddin Nipun.
Kader Gani highlighted the growing role of social media in exercising freedom of speech, despite concerns over the spread of propaganda and rumors. He noted that disinformation and rumors are frequently spread through social media, with some media outlets presenting this information without proper verification, leading to public unrest and tarnishing the media's reputation.
He pointed out that vested interests are behind the spread of disinformation, aiming to suppress opposing views, incite religious hatred, and serve political agendas. Kader Gani cited instances of disinformation targeting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, now prime minister, using AI before the last national election, attributing these acts to deposed forces attempting to destabilize the state.
He urged journalists to adhere to ethical and objective journalism to combat false information and rumors. Faruk Wasif also cautioned against the adverse use of AI and technology, emphasizing that while AI can assist, human journalists must ultimately perform the core tasks in journalism.