Yasser urges journalists to fight misinformation responsibly

In a modest hall in Hossainpur upazila, where three days of training had just come to an end, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury stood before a roomful of journalists not merely to distribute certificates, but to remind them of the weight of the pen and the camera they carry. The occasion was the closing ceremony of a workshop on multimedia journalism, fact-checking and artificial intelligence, and the atmosphere was one of reflection rather than celebration. The minister’s words carried a clear urgency: journalists are operating in a time when misinformation, rumours and AI-generated content spread faster than truth, and they must be both vigilant and responsible. He did not tell them to stop criticising the government; in fact, he insisted that highlighting government errors and shortcomings was part of their duty. But he drew a sharp line between honest criticism and destructive smear campaigns. “Highlight government errors,” he urged, “but through fact-based reporting, not through misinformation.” The training itself, he explained, was not just about awarding certificates or completing a program. It was about equipping journalists with the practical skills needed to verify facts, to question digital content, and to stand firm against a rising tide of falsehoods that threaten to drown public trust. His tone was not lecturing but almost paternal, as if he were speaking to younger colleagues in a shared profession rather than subjects of a state ministry. He acknowledged the difficulty of the media’s task, but he also made it clear that in Bangladesh, journalists are not spectators in the fight for truth—they are frontline workers, and their role has never been more essential.

As the minister continued, his voice grew more personal, more emotional. He spoke about a troubling reality that many in the room had likely witnessed themselves: the ease with which smear campaigns spread across social media. “There is hardly any popular or well-known figure in Bangladesh who has not been targeted by smear campaigns on social media,” he said, pausing to let the statement settle. Then he added something that struck a deeper chord: “Even our mothers and sisters are being humiliated through misinformation and impersonation. This amounts to a violation of human rights.” In those words, he shifted the conversation from abstract media ethics to the lived suffering of real families. The mention of mothers and sisters was deliberate; it humanized the issue beyond politicians and celebrities, reminding journalists that behind every false post and doctored image is a person whose dignity has been attacked. The minister stressed that journalists have a crucial role in curbing the spread of misinformation in Bangladesh. They are not merely observers or reporters; they are gatekeepers of truth in a landscape where lies travel at the speed of a click. He did not absolve the media of responsibility, but he also acknowledged that many of the people spreading disorder are not journalists at all. They are individuals who pose as journalists, hide behind fake profiles, and pump false information into public spaces. This, he suggested, only makes the work of genuine journalists harder, because public trust is eroded by those who abuse the title. And in an age where artificial intelligence can fabricate images and videos that look entirely real, the damage is even greater. The minister’s message was therefore not a warning but a call to arms: protect the profession, protect the truth, and protect the people who are harmed when lies are allowed to multiply unchecked.

The challenge of distinguishing real journalists from fake ones was a theme the state minister returned to with considerable concern. He pointed out that smear campaigns are not limited to professional journalists; many people who claim to be journalists spread rumors and false information, using the very label of journalism as a shield. Worse, some use AI tools to manipulate photographs and create videos that are then circulated on social media, causing irreparable harm to innocent people and damaging the reputation of legitimate journalists. These actions, he implied, are not only unethical but also corrosive to the entire media ecosystem. The solution, he said, lies in training and recognition. The government, he announced, is creating opportunities for genuine journalists to receive advanced education, including two-year master’s programmes and courses specifically focused on AI-based journalism. This is not a distant promise; it is a roadmap. He explained that a list of genuine journalists will be prepared through press clubs, and once that list is compiled, those journalists will be brought under structured training programmes. The idea is to professionalize the field, to separate authentic voices from impostors, and to give real journalists the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing digital world. There was a sense in his words that the government is not simply reacting to the problem but trying to build a more resilient media sector from the ground up. He spoke of a future where journalists are not only trusted but also equipped—where the profession is respected because those who practice it are trained, verified and supported. The mention of press clubs was significant, because it rooted the process in local institutions and community networks, suggesting that the validation of a journalist should come from their peers and their own communities, not only from distant authorities.

Beyond training, the state minister turned to the broader question of care for journalists as human beings. He reminded the audience that support is being provided through the Journalist Welfare Trust, a mechanism designed to aid journalists in times of need. But he went further, revealing that a proposal has been submitted to the Prime Minister to increase support for journalists, and that the process has already begun at the Ministry of Finance. This was not a vague assurance; it was an update on ongoing work. He also addressed a perception that might arise from his own background, noting that while he represents a particular division, his responsibilities extend far beyond it. “I am not only a minister for the Mymensingh Division; I am a minister for the entire country,” he said. “The ministry works for all of Bangladesh. However, it is only natural to have a special concern for the people of the surrounding areas.” This balance between national duty and local loyalty is something many people in public life struggle with, but the minister framed it as a natural and honest position. He spoke about the first phase of journalist training programmes, which have already been organised in the Mymensingh Division, Bogura, Feni and districts surrounding Dhaka. This, he said, is only the beginning. The programme will gradually be expanded to other parts of the country, ensuring that journalists in every district have access to the same opportunities. His words suggested a long-term vision, not a one-off event. He wanted the audience to understand that they are part of a larger movement, one that will continue to grow and evolve, bringing more journalists under its umbrella and strengthening the profession across the entire nation. There was a quiet optimism in his voice, a belief that these first steps would lead to a more informed, more capable and more independent press in the years to come.

The conversation then turned to the nation itself, and the role of journalists within it. The state minister was candid about the government’s approach to development, and specifically about the promises it chooses to make. “We do not wish to offer false or hollow assurances, such as promising to transform Bangladesh into Singapore within the next five years,” he said. “We do not make such empty promises. However, we are working to make Bangladesh a better and more prosperous country.” This was a deliberate jab at political rhetoric elsewhere, but delivered with a sense of realism rather than bitterness. He seemed to be saying that the people of Bangladesh do not need fantasies; they need steady, honest progress. He then broadened the message to include everyone: politicians, administrators, government employees and journalists. He said that Bangladesh belongs to everyone, and that all citizens have responsibilities toward their country. Journalists, in particular, have a unique role. They voice the concerns of the people, they bring attention to problems, and they highlight the government’s errors and shortcomings. But this, he insisted, must be done through responsible and fact-based journalism. The distinction was important: criticism is not the same as betrayal, and accountability is not the same as hostility. He called on journalists to hold power to account, but to do so with integrity, with evidence, and with a genuine commitment to the public good. In a time when information is weaponized and truth is often traded for attention, these words carried a moral weight that went beyond politics. The minister was not asking journalists to soften their coverage; he was asking them to professionalize their craft, to understand that the credibility of the media depends on the discipline and honesty of those who work within it.

Finally, the state minister addressed the question of media freedom, and the political context in which that freedom exists. He said that the freedom currently enjoyed by the media under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would continue. He urged journalists to play a constructive role in protecting democracy and the interests of the state. His language grew more serious as he warned of the dangers of returning to a darker era. “You must remain vigilant to ensure that the fascism which once shattered the state and crippled Bangladesh’s economy over 17 years does not return, and that democracy is upheld.” These were heavy words, filled with the memory of past suffering and the fear of repeating it. The minister clearly believes that democracy and media freedom are fragile, and that journalists have a duty to defend them. He spoke of development in Hossainpur and other upazilas of Kishoreganj, saying that state-led development programmes will be implemented in phases. This was perhaps a quieter but equally important point: progress comes slowly, but it must come, and it must reach even the most local corners of the country. As the ceremony drew to a close, the state minister’s final message was one of shared responsibility. He was not standing above the journalists, telling them what to do. He was standing with them, as a citizen of the same country, under the same sky, facing the same challenges. He asked them to be vigilant, to be truthful, and to remain committed to the democratic future of Bangladesh. In return, he offered not empty promises but a continuing program of training, support and recognition. The journalists left the hall with their certificates, but also with a clearer sense of the task before them. The training had ended, but the work, they knew, had just begun.