A national seminar on “Combating Misinformation in Elections through Building Trust in the Electoral Process” was held in Dhaka today. The seminar was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Democratic Reforms through Inclusive Participation in Bangladesh (DRIP) project, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The objective of the seminar was to promote transparency, strengthen public confidence in democratic processes, and explore collaborative strategies to counter misinformation that undermines electoral integrity, a UNDP press release said. The event brought together election officials, media leaders, civil society representatives, and international development partners to address the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. Speaking at the seminar as the chief guest, Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah, Brigadier General (Retd.) and Bangladesh Election Commissioner said the first casualty in today’s electoral climate is not democracy or elections-but trust. He emphasised the need for an electoral ecosystem where truth can circulate freely and act as a “collective immune system” against digital misinformation. Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, highlighted the role of inclusive democratic practices in countering misinformation. “Transparency and consultation are key to reducing public susceptibility to false narratives,” she noted. Among others, Dr Susan Vize, UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh; Kamal Ahmed, Head of the Media Reform Commission; and Andres Castillo, Chief Technical Adviser, Electoral Assistance, UNDP Bangladesh; also spoke. Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Founder and Executive Director, Digitally Right, presented a keynote paper. The seminar concluded with a call for unified efforts from media, electoral bodies, development partners, and civil society to build a more informed and resilient electorate.
