At East West seminar, information adviser says young people must step forward to help seniors pick out correct information
A seminar titled 'Media and Information Literacy Skills for the Youth of the Twenty-first Century' and a special award ceremony were held at the initiative of the Department of Information Studies at East West University.
The seminar was organised as part of the nationwide celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2026, with joint support from the UNESCO Dhaka office, the Media and Information Literacy Network Bangladesh and the United Nations election project 'Ballot'.
Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, was the chief guest at the seminar held on Thursday at East West University's Manzur Elahi Auditorium.
He said fake information is being spread in Bangladesh, as it is all over the world. However, the current government is giving priority to educating and raising awareness among the public rather than imposing strict controls, he said.
Noting that misinformation on social media affects older people more than the young, the information adviser said young people must come forward to help seniors select the correct information.
The event was chaired by Professor Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, chairperson of East West University's Board of Trustees. Special guests included the university's acting vice-chancellor Professor Dr M Ashiq Mosaddick, UNESCO's representative to Bangladesh Dr Susan Vize and Andres del Castillo Sanchez, representative of the UN election project 'Ballot' in Bangladesh.
The keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr Dilara Begum, chairperson of East West University's Department of Information Studies. Professor Dr Kazi Mostak Gausul Haq of Dhaka University's Department of Information Science and Library Management spoke as a discussant of the paper.
At the end of the seminar, awards were distributed among students of different universities in recognition of their special contributions to the week-long media literacy activities.
