Wednesday | 24 June 2026 | Reg No- 06
Journalism is a noble profession. One who carries the responsibility of enlightening society with the light of truth must never resort to negligence or recklessness.
But the reality in Bangladesh today suggests that some media outlets are more interested in chasing views, ratings, and competition than upholding a sense of responsibility. As a result, false, incomplete, or unverified information is being turned into “news.” Journalism is a noble profession. One who carries the responsibility of enlightening society with the light of truth must never resort to negligence or recklessness.
But the reality in Bangladesh today suggests that some media outlets are more interested in chasing views, ratings, and competition than upholding a sense of responsibility. As a result, false, incomplete, or unverified information is being turned into “news.” This harms not just the affected individuals but also society, readers, and journalism itself.
Especially when content that goes viral on social media gets published in mainstream newspapers without verification, it creates a dangerous form of information terrorism. False news doesn’t only humiliate individuals—it breeds confusion and division in society. In this context, it is high time for news organizations and media houses to embrace a culture of accountability rooted in truth, humanity, and responsibility.
Fake News: A Few Notable Incidents
In January 2025, in Dhamrai, Dhaka, a news report claiming “a wedding was called off because the bride danced on her wedding day” went viral online and was published by multiple online portals and local dailies. However, both the local administration and the bride’s family later clarified that the story was entirely baseless. The report framed a girl’s personal freedom as a crime against social norms or traditions. Based on false information, the girl and her family faced social backlash from neighbors and relatives.
This is not an isolated incident. In the last two years, at least 143 complaints have been made regarding fake or misleading news reports, including 48 involving women and children, and 32 based solely on Facebook posts or misleading videos. Observations by Media Watch Bangladesh and the Press Council reveal that in most cases, sources were not verified, no statements were taken from involved individuals, and “sources” were often vague or just unverified social media posts.
More Real-life Examples:
Gopalganj, 2024: An online portal published false news about a teacher. The video turned out to be fake, yet the teacher lost his job and his family suffered social humiliation.
Rangpur, 2023: A rumor about religious blasphemy led to outrage against an innocent priest. Misinformation triggered an attack on a temple, injuring several innocent people.
Khulna, 2025: A female doctor was accused in a fabricated report of running an illegal clinic. As a result, she was forced to leave the country.
News Structure and Responsibility
Journalism is not merely the dissemination of information—it is a form of public service. While local correspondents may provide leads, that does not mean the information is entirely accurate. That’s why fact-checking, secondary sources, victim statements, and editorial verification are essential steps in publishing any report. Unfortunately, most online portals and small-scale media outlets ignore these steps.
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, states, “News is a public accountability product. If falsehoods, incompleteness, or misleading elements infiltrate journalism, it can shake the entire democratic structure. Editors must strengthen the responsibility within newsrooms while respecting journalistic freedom.”
Often, reporters are pressured by editorial boards to produce "exclusive" content, which increases the risk of false reporting. In such situations, responsibility doesn’t lie solely on the journalist—but also on the news desk, sub-editors, copy editors, newsroom heads, and ultimately the editor.
Impact of Fake News: From Individuals to Society
Victims of fake news report being socially humiliated. They are forced to explain themselves to relatives, face discomfort at work, and often suffer such intense mental trauma that they require psychological treatment. One family shared, “We were forced to live in hiding. The news may have disappeared, but the wound remains.”
Nasrin Sultana, Director of a human rights organization, notes—“Fake news can rob a person of their dignity. We forget that a name in a news story doesn’t just describe an incident—it shapes someone’s future, identity, and social standing.”
Sometimes, a false report can even lead to suicide—a grim reality witnessed in Bangladesh. Such a situation should never be acceptable in a civilized society.
When Readers Are Confused, Trust in Media Declines
Hundreds of news items circulate every day—some true, some half-truths, and some outright false. A large portion of readers find themselves trapped in this maze. Some have even said, “Nowadays, it's hard to fully trust newspapers.”
Researcher’s Analysis
In a report by the Reuters Institute, analyst Mostafa Azizul Haque notes—“In Bangladesh, readers are confused. Some treat Facebook statuses as real news, while others are skeptical of even mainstream outlets. If this crisis of trust is not addressed, democracy itself may face serious threats.”
According to that 2023 report, only 37% of Bangladeshi readers fully trust the media. 63% believe that many news stories are biased or misleading. This rate is even lower than that of India or Sri Lanka.
Legal Framework and Punitive Measures
Under Bangladeshi law, publishing defamatory or misleading news is a criminal offense, yet the legal process is lengthy and expensive. Section 25 of the Digital Security Act 2018 prescribes up to 3 years of imprisonment for publishing false or misleading information. However, a large segment of journalists believes that this law is often misused to suppress freedom of expression.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tahmina Rahman states—“Just as freedom of expression must be preserved, laws must be in place to prevent abuse of that freedom. However, those laws must not be used to stifle legitimate journalism.”
That said, if a media outlet repeatedly publishes false information without correction, it should face license cancellation, fines, or legal action against the responsible journalists. Here, we must differentiate between journalism and rumor-mongering.
The Way Forward: What Needs to Be Done?
Strengthen Fact-checking Units: Every media house should have a dedicated fact-checking cell that verifies every report before publication.
Editorial Accountability: When news is proven false, editors should be mandated to publish official clarifications.
Remedy for Victims: Victims of false reporting should have access to immediate legal support from both the state and media organizations.
Training for Journalists: Annual training should be mandatory, especially for grassroots reporters. Journalism is not just about writing news—it’s a fusion of ethics, sensitivity, and humanity.
Media Policy Reform: The Press Council should be empowered to conduct suo moto investigations and hold irresponsible media accountable.
AI-driven Misinformation Detection: Major media houses must implement AI tools to detect misinformation, as already done by BBC and India Today.
News Literacy in Curriculum: Introduce “News Literacy” as a subject in secondary school curricula to raise public awareness.
Former President of the National Press Club, Shafiqur Rahman, remarks—“Every news organization should have a neutral fact-checking cell. If editors pressure journalists to publish misleading content just for competition, they are weakening the profession from within. That mindset must change.”
A single fake news report can turn a family’s life upside down, exile an innocent girl from society, or wrongfully convict a blameless individual. Therefore, the media must be more humane, more responsible, and more committed to truth.
Going viral or chasing views is not a badge of honor for journalism—trust is. To restore that trust, every step of journalism must be guided by professionalism, honesty, ethics, and empathy. Only then can the media be a true mirror of society—not a source of confusion.
The writer is an Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, Rosey Mozammel Women’s Honors
College; Journalist and Columnist
This harms not just the affected individuals but also society, readers, and journalism itself.
Especially when content that goes viral on social media gets published in mainstream newspapers without verification, it creates a dangerous form of information terrorism. False news doesn’t only humiliate individuals—it breeds confusion and division in society. In this context, it is high time for news organizations and media houses to embrace a culture of accountability rooted in truth, humanity, and responsibility.
Fake News: A Few Notable Incidents
In January 2025, in Dhamrai, Dhaka, a news report claiming “a wedding was called off because the bride danced on her wedding day” went viral online and was published by multiple online portals and local dailies. However, both the local administration and the bride’s family later clarified that the story was entirely baseless. The report framed a girl’s personal freedom as a crime against social norms or traditions. Based on false information, the girl and her family faced social backlash from neighbors and relatives.
This is not an isolated incident. In the last two years, at least 143 complaints have been made regarding fake or misleading news reports, including 48 involving women and children, and 32 based solely on Facebook posts or misleading videos. Observations by Media Watch Bangladesh and the Press Council reveal that in most cases, sources were not verified, no statements were taken from involved individuals, and “sources” were often vague or just unverified social media posts.
More Real-life Examples:
Gopalganj, 2024: An online portal published false news about a teacher. The video turned out to be fake, yet the teacher lost his job and his family suffered social humiliation.
Rangpur, 2023: A rumor about religious blasphemy led to outrage against an innocent priest. Misinformation triggered an attack on a temple, injuring several innocent people.
Khulna, 2025: A female doctor was accused in a fabricated report of running an illegal clinic. As a result, she was forced to leave the country.
News Structure and Responsibility
Journalism is not merely the dissemination of information—it is a form of public service. While local correspondents may provide leads, that does not mean the information is entirely accurate. That’s why fact-checking, secondary sources, victim statements, and editorial verification are essential steps in publishing any report. Unfortunately, most online portals and small-scale media outlets ignore these steps.
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, states, “News is a public accountability product. If falsehoods, incompleteness, or misleading elements infiltrate journalism, it can shake the entire democratic structure. Editors must strengthen the responsibility within newsrooms while respecting journalistic freedom.”
Often, reporters are pressured by editorial boards to produce "exclusive" content, which increases the risk of false reporting. In such situations, responsibility doesn’t lie solely on the journalist—but also on the news desk, sub-editors, copy editors, newsroom heads, and ultimately the editor.
Impact of Fake News: From Individuals to Society
Victims of fake news report being socially humiliated. They are forced to explain themselves to relatives, face discomfort at work, and often suffer such intense mental trauma that they require psychological treatment. One family shared, “We were forced to live in hiding. The news may have disappeared, but the wound remains.”
Nasrin Sultana, Director of a human rights organization, notes—“Fake news can rob a person of their dignity. We forget that a name in a news story doesn’t just describe an incident—it shapes someone’s future, identity, and social standing.”
Sometimes, a false report can even lead to suicide—a grim reality witnessed in Bangladesh. Such a situation should never be acceptable in a civilized society.
When Readers Are Confused, Trust in Media Declines
Hundreds of news items circulate every day—some true, some half-truths, and some outright false. A large portion of readers find themselves trapped in this maze. Some have even said, “Nowadays, it's hard to fully trust newspapers.”
Researcher’s Analysis
In a report by the Reuters Institute, analyst Mostafa Azizul Haque notes—“In Bangladesh, readers are confused. Some treat Facebook statuses as real news, while others are skeptical of even mainstream outlets. If this crisis of trust is not addressed, democracy itself may face serious threats.”
According to that 2023 report, only 37% of Bangladeshi readers fully trust the media. 63% believe that many news stories are biased or misleading. This rate is even lower than that of India or Sri Lanka.
Legal Framework and Punitive Measures
Under Bangladeshi law, publishing defamatory or misleading news is a criminal offense, yet the legal process is lengthy and expensive. Section 25 of the Digital Security Act 2018 prescribes up to 3 years of imprisonment for publishing false or misleading information. However, a large segment of journalists believes that this law is often misused to suppress freedom of expression.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tahmina Rahman states—“Just as freedom of expression must be preserved, laws must be in place to prevent abuse of that freedom. However, those laws must not be used to stifle legitimate journalism.”
That said, if a media outlet repeatedly publishes false information without correction, it should face license cancellation, fines, or legal action against the responsible journalists. Here, we must differentiate between journalism and rumor-mongering.
The Way Forward: What Needs to Be Done?
Strengthen Fact-checking Units: Every media house should have a dedicated fact-checking cell that verifies every report before publication.
Editorial Accountability: When news is proven false, editors should be mandated to publish official clarifications.
Remedy for Victims: Victims of false reporting should have access to immediate legal support from both the state and media organizations.
Training for Journalists: Annual training should be mandatory, especially for grassroots reporters. Journalism is not just about writing news—it’s a fusion of ethics, sensitivity, and humanity.
Media Policy Reform: The Press Council should be empowered to conduct suo moto investigations and hold irresponsible media accountable.
AI-driven Misinformation Detection: Major media houses must implement AI tools to detect misinformation, as already done by BBC and India Today.
News Literacy in Curriculum: Introduce “News Literacy” as a subject in secondary school curricula to raise public awareness.
Former President of the National Press Club, Shafiqur Rahman, remarks—“Every news organization should have a neutral fact-checking cell. If editors pressure journalists to publish misleading content just for competition, they are weakening the profession from within. That mindset must change.”
A single fake news report can turn a family’s life upside down, exile an innocent girl from society, or wrongfully convict a blameless individual. Therefore, the media must be more humane, more responsible, and more committed to truth.
Going viral or chasing views is not a badge of honor for journalism—trust is. To restore that trust, every step of journalism must be guided by professionalism, honesty, ethics, and empathy. Only then can the media be a true mirror of society—not a source of confusion.
The writer is an Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, Rosey Mozammel Women’s Honors College; Journalist and Columnist
