Photo : ISPR

DHAKA, Sept 3, 2025 (BSS) – Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Reconciliation Affairs Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz has stressed the need for taking multi-pronged steps to counter propaganda and disinformation describing those as dangerous than missiles in the current era.   

“The future war will not start with weapons, but with viral video or distorted information. In today’s era a post or viral content can be more dangerous than a missile. So, establish truth as a national strength,” he said. 

He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Resilience in the Information Domain: Tools to Address Misinformation and Disinformation on Social Media” at the General Mostafiz Multipurpose Hall at the MIST in the capital’s Mirpur.

The Armed Forces Division (AFD) and the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) today jointly organized the seminar, according to an ISPR press release.

Hafiz has called on everyone to question them before sharing anything, develop indigenous fact-checking tools, conduct research on AI-based solutions to counter deep fake and incorporate media literacy in military and civilian education.

Speaking on the occasion as the special guest Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Kamrul Hassan highlighted the need for sustainable strategies to secure accurate information in the current digital age, strengthening cyber security and integrated approaches including technological development, and emphasized on its practical implementation.
 
MIST Commandant Maj Gen Md Nasim Parvez gave the address of welcome while Vice Chancellor, University of Frontier Technology, Bangladesh Professor Dr. Mohammad Abu Yousuf presented the keynote speech at the seminar.

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka, Professor Dr. SM Shameem Reza, Brig Gen Sufi Mohammad Moinuddin and Department of Computer Science and Engineering, MIST Professor Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman took part in the seminar as panel discussants.
 
The seminar was also attended by officers of the armed forces, officials of various ministries, agencies, media persons and faculty and students of MIST, BUP, Maritime University and University of Frontier Technology, Bangladesh.
 
The speakers at the seminar highlighted the impact of propaganda and disinformation on social media alongside various aspects of countering those.  
 
They noted that a combination of technological innovation, specific policy formulation and awareness education are essential to combat disinformation and rumors in the current context.
 
They also suggested putting focus on developing a clear understanding of the strategies, methods and objectives of countering the impact of disinformation and rumors in society, and on proactive and multi-dimensional solutions.

From a military perspective, they said that social media has emerged as a strategic threat.
 
They have suggested taking immediate action, institutional capacity building and awareness-raising as well as appropriate training to counter it.
 
The discussants hoped that the seminar is expected to play a helpful role in raising awareness in the military and civilian arenas about creating a stable and reliable information space through the proper use of social media, as well as taking steps for the future.