Misinformation, fake news becoming a grave concern: Shahriar Alam

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam today said the government is committed to ensuring people's right to information and freedom of speech but the increasing trend of misinformation and fake news is a matter of grave concern day by day.

"We all have to work in a responsible way. If we all work together, we shall be able to fight the mounting trend of misinformation and fake news," he said while speaking as chief guest at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club.

The Women Journalists Network Bangladesh (WJNB), in partnership with the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh, organised the discussion on the "Importance of Digital Literacy to combat Hate Speech and Misinformation" under the project "Digital Literacy and Digital Safety".

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls agreed that this is a global issue as it is everywhere and has a gender dimension as well. "The challenges exists in Canada too."

Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yasmin and former President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul also spoke at the discussion while Lead (Public Relations), Brac Golam Kibria presented the keynote paper.

Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, senior journalists, academics, feminists, activists, media influencers and journalists were present at the discussion conducted by WJNB coordinator Angur Nahar Monty.