Speakers on an orientation organised by ARTICLE 19 South Asia, an international human rights organisation working on freedom of expression and right to information, said that digital and media information literacy is must to combat against rumours, misinformation, fake news and propaganda.

They came up with this view in an orientation tilted ‘Sensitizing Young Diversified People on Misinformation and Fact checking’ held in Bogura on Tuesday.

The journalists from print, electronic and online media participated at the orientation. The orientation was organised to introduce the participants with the contents of 5 weeks online course titled ‘Sensitizing Young Diversified People on Misinformation and Factchecking’ and on online course platform

Rumky Farhana, Senior Program Officer of ARTICLE 19 South Asia presented the keynote paper pointing out the objectives and scope of the orientation as well as highlighted the organisation’s activities to combat against misinformation and disinformation and to ensure communal harmony by inreasing media and digital literacy.

Faruq Faisel, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 South Asia said, “In Bangladesh, physical and verbal attacks against religious and ethnic minorities are on the rise due to the influence of hate speech, rumours, fake news especially in on online.

Although hate speech, rumours and fake news are not a new phenomenon, however the scale and impacts have amplified due to the advent of new technologies and online communication. It is important to make the new generation of diverse communities’ literate and aware on information and communication.”

“By doing this course students will be able to verify the veracity of news, misinformation and rumors, biased and intentionally disseminated news and produce quality information themselves. It will also contribute to enable the reader’s ability to acquire correct information and will develop a conscious and responsible audience, he added.”