Stating that social media has both positive and negative sides, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday laid emphasis on bringing it under discipline to check fake news, reports UNB.
"Anyone can publish anything on social media as it's an unedited platform. People used to depend on only mainstream media for information in the past, but now they also get information from social media. The recent Barguna killing got exposed by it," he said.
Dr Hasan further said, "Many rumours and fake news were also spread through the social media causing social instability.
So, we should seriously think of it, and find out ways to ensure discipline in such media so it can't harm the country and society."
The minister came up with the observations while unveiling the cover of a book titled 'Sangbadikota Raat Biraate' authored by Mahfuzur Rahman, Editor of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), at the Jatiya Press Club.
He thanked the UNB editor for writing a book on journalism based on his vast experience. "I hope journalists and the students and the profession as a whole will be benefited from this book."
Stating that people remain alive after their deaths through their books, Hasan Mahmud said the presence of many noted journalists are not felt now as they did not write any book sharing their experiences.
"Books are necessary for enriching society and literature and guiding the nation."
As the fourth estate, he said the mass media play an important role in building a society based on logic and fairness. "The enhancement of professional skills of those involved with the media is necessary to properly serve society.
I think this book will help journalists improve their professional skills."
The minister said mass media witnessed huge expansion in Bangladesh over the last 10 years as the country now has over 1,300 daily newspapers, several thousand online portals and 34 TV channels alongside the emergence of social media.
Dhaka University's ex-vice chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said journalism is a tough profession as it only deals with truth.
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