DHAKA, Sept 8, 2020 (BSS) – The government today launched a campaign
titled: ‘Asol Chini’ to know the truth-against the rush of fake information
and rumors in the online and social media.
As many as seven million people will be aware under the three-month long
campaign launched jointly by Digital Security Agency (DSA) and LICT project
of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT Division, said a press
release.
Inaugurating the campaign at the BCC auditorium and zoom platform, State
Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak said it is very difficult to
know the truth due to the onrush of fake information and rumors in the online
and social media causing social unrest, damage of property and even loss of
life.
‘But we could get to know the truth easily if we apply our common sense
and intellect,” Palak said adding the ICT division has started campaigning
from today to stop rumors and fake information.
Senior Secretary of the ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam, Director General of
DSA and LICT Project Director Md Rezaul Karim, BCC Executive Director
Parthapratim Deb, Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed, Communication
Manager of UNICEF Shakil Faizullah, Women and e-Commerce Forum President
Nasima Akhter Nisha and Founder of Bangladesh Innovation Forum Arif Hasan
Opu, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Digital Communication Specialist Hasan Benaul Islam moderated the
function.
Palak presented a power point on ‘Building Digital Literate Nation,’ at
the function describing the overall objectives of the campaign.
Stressing on digital literacy, he said although the rate of literacy has
been increased substantially there are lack of digital literacy.
“There is no alternative to digital literacy to stop fake info and
spread rumor in the online and social media.” Palak said urging the youths to
create awareness among the people about the fake information and rumors.
The state minister said it is the youths who could detect the fake
information and rumors and help others to know the truth. The government has
been engaging the members from the young generation who represent 90 percent
of the total social media users to make successful of the Asol Chini
campaign, he added.
To mark the campaign a platform `Durbar’ (www.durbar21.org) has been
developed for registering the names of two ambassadors from each union,
upazial, district and wards of municipal corporation and pourasava who will
involved in creating awareness among the people about the menace of fake
information and rumors. Anyone can also read the contents by registering
through Durbar.
Later, the state minister handed over two laptops to Tuba and Mahir, the
daughter of slain Taslima Begum Renu who was mercilessly beaten to death due
to rumor in 2019.