A two-day training program titled “Fact-Checking to Prevent Rumors” has begun today in Sirajganj, initiated by the South Asia Center for Media in Development (SACMID). The workshop, running from September 8 to 9, brings together 20 students from various colleges and universities across Sirajganj.
The primary objective of this training is to equip students with the skills to identify and counter misinformation and rumors, as well as to promote safe and responsible use of digital platforms.
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.” In Sirajganj district, the project is being implemented in collaboration with Community Development Organization (CDO), a local NGO partner.
The workshop is being conducted by Minhaz Aman, one of Bangladesh’s leading fact-checking experts. He noted, “Participants are gaining hands-on experience in using various tools and techniques for verifying information, responsible use of social media, and ensuring safe communication online.”
The training emphasizes how rumors and misinformation spread, who benefits from them, and most importantly, how to detect and prevent them.
Participants are learning to use digital tools such as Google Reverse Image Search, InVID, Google Advanced Search, and web archiving platforms to verify content, identify fake news, and trace the original sources of information.
Key attendees at the training included Abu Sufian, representative of SACMID, and Md. Zahidul Islam, Acting Executive Director and Chairman of Community Development Organization (CDO).
Following the training, on September 10, the participants will take part in a consultative meeting with local representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and the Sirajganj District Police. This meeting aims to explore ways to apply their new knowledge and skills at the community level.
Through this initiative, SACMID aims to raise awareness among women and youth about digital risks, enhance online safety, and strengthen digital literacy and resilience in the face of misinformation.
