To fight misinformation and rumors, the South Asia Center for Media in Development (SACMID) has started a two-day fact-checking training program in Cumilla. The program, which runs from August 12-13, brings together 20 students from various colleges and universities across the district. The main goal of this training is to equip students with the skills they need to fight misinformation and ensure safe online practices.
This initiative is part of a larger project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, that aims to “Empowering Media Professionals, Girl Students and Community Women through an Improved Understanding of Digital Threats and Security Measures.” The Holodia Women’s Development Organization is serving as the local NGO partner for the project’s implementation in the Cumilla district.
Shuvashish Das Ray Dip, a prominent fact-checking expert in Bangladesh, is leading the training. Participants are learning hands-on how to verify information, use social media responsibly, and communicate safely online.
The program focuses on understanding how rumors and misinformation spread, who benefits from them, and how to identify them.
Following the training, on August 14, participants will meet with district-level officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and upazilla-level officials from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Directorate to discuss how they can apply their new knowledge and skills locally.
