Staff Reporter:
Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon yesterday urged the mainstream media to play a stronger and more responsible role in preventing misinformation and rumors circulating on social media regarding the ongoing SSC examinations.
“Verifying the authenticity of any news before publication is a moral obligation, so that students and parents are not misled,” he said.
The minister made these remarks while responding to journalists after a program at the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Responding to a question about rumors of question paper leaks being spread through platforms like Tel-egram and Facebook, he said that information is being manipulated on such platforms.
However, he stressed that mainstream media must properly verify news before publishing it.
He also noted that a television channel had aired a report without proper verification the previous day, expressing expectations for more responsible behavior from media outlets.
Comparing social media to “instant coffee,” he said it encourages rapid, unverified comments and dis-semination, which pose a threat to the educational environment.
