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Monday | November 02, 2026 | Dhaka

EWU seminar highlights youth role in fighting fake news

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:02 AM, 02 November 2026

Information and Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has urged young people to help older adults develop media and information literacy so they can identify fake news and misinformation.

He made the call at a seminar titled “Media and Information Literacy Skills for 21st Century Youth” at East West University (EWU) in Dhaka on October 29.

Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Zahed said fake news and misinformation were spreading rapidly in Bangladesh, as in other parts of the world. He said the current government placed greater importance on educating and empowering citizens than on imposing strict regulatory controls.

He noted that older people were often more vulnerable than younger people to misinformation spread through social media. He called on young people to support senior citizens in checking information and identifying misleading or inauthentic content.

The seminar and a special award ceremony were held at the university’s Manzur Elahi Auditorium.

The Department of Information Studies at EWU organised the event as part of the nationwide celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2026.

The programme was organised in collaboration with the UNESCO Dhaka Office, the Media and Information Literacy Network Bangladesh (MILNetBD) and the UN Electoral Project ‘Ballot’.

EWU Board of Trustees Chairperson Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin chaired the seminar.

EWU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M Ashik Mosaddik, UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Susan Vize and Representative of the UN Electoral Project ‘Ballot’ Bangladesh Andrés del Castillo Sánchez attended as special guests.

Professor Dr Dilara Begum, chairperson of EWU’s Department of Information Studies, presented the keynote paper.

Professor Dr Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq of the Department of Information Science and Library Management at the University of Dhaka discussed the paper in detail.

The seminar focused on the importance of media and information literacy among young people in the 21st century. The speakers and participants discussed the role of information literacy in helping people deal with misleading information.

Following the seminar, awards were presented to students and media literacy advocates in recognition of their contributions to the week-long awareness activities.

The programme was part of the nationwide activities marking Global MIL Week 2026.