Media must take a firm stand against rumours, misinfo: Mahfuj

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuj Alam has said the media must take a firm stand against rumours and misinformation to restore public trust, reports UNB.
"People's distrust of the media must be removed," he said while addressing a training workshop titled 'Prevention of Media Misinformation and Presentation of Objective News' at the Bangladesh Press Council in the capital on Monday.
Mahfuj Alam said spread of rumours and misinformation has become a common practice, particularly during the 15-year tenure of the previous government.
Referring to recent earthquake-related reports, he criticised certain media outlets for "spreading panic instead of raising public awareness," calling the practice "regrettable."
Mahbuba Farzana, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, spoke as the special guest at the workshop, which was chaired by Justice AKM Abdul Hakim, chairman of the Bangladesh Press Council.
Shamsul Huq Zahid, Editor of The Financial Express, and Abu Saleh Akon, President of Dhaka Reporters Unity, also addressed the event.
A total of 50 journalists took part in the training workshop, and certificates were distributed among them.