Dhaka: Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Reconciliation Affairs Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz has emphasized the necessity of adopting a multi-pronged approach to counter propaganda and disinformation, describing these issues as more perilous than missiles in the current era. “The future war will not start with weapons, but with viral video or distorted information. In today’s era, a post or viral content can be more dangerous than a missile. So, establish truth as a national strength,” he stated while addressing a seminar as the chief guest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the seminar titled ‘Resilience in the Information Domain: Tools to Address Misinformation and Disinformation on Social Media’ was jointly organized by the Armed Forces Division (AFD) and the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) at the General Mostafiz Multipurpose Hall in Mirpur. Hafiz urged individuals to verify information before sharing, develop local fact-checking tools, research AI-based solutions to counter deep fakes, and incorporate media literacy in both military and civilian education.
Lt Gen Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, highlighted the necessity of sustainable strategies to secure accurate information in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of cyber security, technological development, and practical implementation. The seminar featured welcome remarks by MIST Commandant Maj Gen Md Nasim Parvez and a keynote speech by Professor Dr. Mohammad Abu Yousuf, Vice Chancellor of the University of Frontier Technology, Bangladesh.
The event included panel discussions with Professor Dr. SM Shameem Reza, Brig Gen Sufi Mohammad Moinuddin, and Professor Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, among others. Attendees included armed forces officers, ministry officials, media personnel, and students from various universities. The discussions highlighted the impact of social media propaganda and disinformation, stressing the need for technological innovation, policy formulation, and awareness education.
Speakers emphasized understanding strategies to counter disinformation and suggested proactive, multidimensional solutions. They recognized social media as a strategic threat from a military perspective and called for immediate action, capacity building, and training to mitigate these challenges. The seminar aimed to raise awareness in both military and civilian sectors about creating a stable information space through responsible social media use.