A discussion meeting titled “Social Harmony and Responsible Use of Information: Addressing Rumours and Disinformation” was held in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday to promote social cohesion and encourage responsible information-sharing practices.
The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute organised the event at a hotel in the town.
Organisers stated that BEI, a non-profit and non-partisan research organisation, has a long history of engaging in activities related to social development, policy research, and civic awareness. As part of its ongoing efforts to address the harmful impacts of rumours, disinformation, and irresponsible information dissemination, the organisation arranged the discussion.
The chief guest at the event was M Humayun Kabir, a former ambassador of Bangladesh. Among others present were Omar Faruk, member secretary of the Cox’s Bazar district unit of the NCP, along with political leaders, development practitioners, young entrepreneurs, teachers, journalists and representatives from various professional groups.
Speakers observed that in the digital age, misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly through social media and online platforms, posing risks to social trust, mutual understanding, and communal harmony. They warned that sharing unverified information can create challenges for individuals, communities, and the state.
The speakers stressed the importance of verifying information sources, strengthening media literacy and promoting critical thinking among citizens to ensure the responsible use of information. They also called on young people to play a proactive role in countering rumours and false information.
Participants shared their views on maintaining social harmony at the local level, encouraging responsible online behaviour and raising public awareness about misleading information. They emphasised the need to cultivate a culture of fact-checking and responsible social media use.
The organisers said similar dialogues and training programmes would continue in the future to increase public awareness, encourage information verification practices and help build a more inclusive and participatory social environment.
At the end of the programme, participants expressed their commitment to working together to preserve social harmony and combat the spread of rumours, misinformation, and disinformation.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
