Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 15, 2026 (BSS) - A three-day training workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and fact-checking for journalists began in Rajshahi today, aiming to strengthen media professionals' ability to combat misinformation and effectively use emerging technologies in modern journalism.

Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton inaugurated the workshop at the conference room of the Department of Social Services.

Organised by the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) under the supervision of the Rajshahi Journalists' Union, the training will continue until July 17.

Rajshahi Journalists' Union President Muhammad Abdul Awal presided over the inaugural session, while PIB trainer Zilhaj Uddin Nipun delivered the welcome address. General Secretary of the Rajshahi Journalists' Union Dalim Hossain Shanto moderated the programme.

Assistant Secretary General of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Dr. Sadiqul Islam Swapan attended as the special guest.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said the government is attaching importance to the welfare and professional development of journalists, adding that the Ministry of Information has already undertaken initiatives in this regard.

He said AI and fact-checking have become indispensable tools for journalists in an age when information spreads instantly and misinformation can circulate just as rapidly. Journalists, he said, must not only gather information but also verify its authenticity before publication.

"Artificial intelligence has created new opportunities for journalism, but it must be used responsibly and ethically," he said, adding that enhanced fact-checking skills would enable journalists to produce more accurate and credible reports in the public interest.

Riton expressed hope that the training would contribute to developing a new generation of skilled, responsible and technology-savvy journalists.

In his remarks, Muhammad Abdul Awal stressed the need for journalists to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies while upholding objectivity, professional ethics and rigorous fact-checking practices.

He expressed optimism that the workshop would help improve the professional standards of journalists in Rajshahi.

Organisers said the training aims to equip journalists in the district with practical knowledge and hands-on skills in AI and fact-checking while examining the opportunities, limitations and challenges of using AI in journalism.

Participants will receive practical training on AI applications, fact-checking techniques, modern methods of information verification, ethical journalism, and the professional responsibilities associated with accurate and objective news reporting.

According to the organisers, the initiative is both timely and essential as newsrooms increasingly embrace digital technologies while facing growing challenges from misinformation and disinformation.