Dhaka:Prime Minister's Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly revealed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was subjected to 410 misinformation campaigns over a span of nine months from January to September this year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, during the same period, 118 pieces of misinformation targeted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and 451 focused on the current government. Saleh Shibly shared this information while speaking as the chief guest at a reception ceremony for new members of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), held at the organization's Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium.
Shibly, citing a report from a fact-checking organization, emphasized that misinformation and rumors pose a significant challenge to journalism. He noted that despite the widespread dissemination of information on social media, its credibility is often questioned, leading people to rely on responsible media for verifying important news.
He urged journalists to play a more responsible role in combating misinformation and rumors and suggested that regular fact-checking programs on television channels and media outlets could help the public identify accurate information.
Shibly also advocated for the creation of effective laws to combat misinformation while ensuring that the freedom of journalism is not compromised. Addressing new members of DRU, he highlighted the importance of organizational unity and mutual respect despite differences in opinion.
The event was presided over by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by General Secretary Maynul Hasan Sohel. Other speakers included DRU organizing secretary M M Jasim and several other notable members of the organization.