Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) President Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman yesterday said fake news and misinformation are severe deterrence to any nation's progress. 

"Therefore, it's of paramount importance for individuals to know how to discern fake news from authentic ones, especially for the youth," he said at a BIPSS workshop titled "Developing a Critical Understanding against Fake News and Disinformation" held in the capital.

Muniruzzaman said society has evolved at a rapid pace in the last decade but so have the methods of producing fake news.

The BIPSS president said key information, such as legitimacy of the Covid-19 vaccine, are questioned due to propagandist media production.

"The most prioritised target audience of misinformation is the youth. They're a vulnerable population and it's important for us to make sure that they can distinguish between what's authentic and what's fake," Muniruzzaman said.

He said the impact of misinformation is absolutely pervasive, and it touches all sectors of society. "This can lead to massive security implications and result in social destabilisation."

The interactive workshop was attended by young professionals, students and youth representatives from various disciplines.