BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed spoke at a roundtable discussion titled "July Uprising & Rumor in Politics" held in the capital today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 19, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today urged all to be cautious about rumors centering the upcoming national election.

“As the national election approaches, rumors and misinformation will increase. It will be difficult to hold the upcoming election if we fail to combat AI-generated content and rumors centering the election and for this reason, we all need to remain vigilant,” he said.

Salahuddin Ahmed made the remarks at a roundtable discussion styled "July Uprising & Rumor in Politics" at the Omni Residence Hotel in Banani of the city. 

Bangladesh Centre for Strategic Analysis (BCSA), a research and consulting firm that works to advance evidence-based policy formulation, strategic innovation and sustainable development, arranged the event.

Highlighting the necessity for all political parties to abandon their vested interests for significant change in the country, he said, "If political parties don't give up their petty interests for the sake of a few seats, a major transformation of the country won’t be possible."

Referring to the risk of returning fascism due to conflicts of interest, he called upon all political parties to be vocal, saying, "All political parties must be vocal to ensure that fascism does not resurface."

“We want a new political culture- one that promotes good ideas, meaningful reforms and best practices,” he added. 

The discussion brought together representatives from political parties, fact-checkers, journalists, political analysts, human rights activists, academics, and civil society members. 

Participants elaborated on how rumors and misleading information influence political communication, public opinion, and democratic stability.

Speakers highlighted that following the July Uprising, the spread of rumors and disinformation on online platforms has eroded political harmony. They emphasized that such rumors distort political messages and influence public opinion.

They stressed the importance of research, verification systems, media literacy, and responsible political messaging in combating rumors. 

They also called for coordinated efforts among political parties, the media, and civil society to foster a culture of fact-checking and accountability.

The meeting began with a welcome speech by Dr. Zia Haider, former Senior Health and Nutrition Specialist at the World Bank.

The event was moderated by Asif Bin Ali, a doctoral fellow at Georgia State University, and presented by Shahadat Swadhin, Deputy Director of BCSA.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed, Barrister Rashna Imam, Bangladesh representative of Internews Shamim Ara Sheuly, politician Dr. Faizul Hakim Lala, Advocate Farzana Sharmin Putul, political analyst Ashraf Kaiser, Associate Professor Dr. Salim Hossain of Dhaka University; Sadik Mahmud of BRAIN, Professor Salma Begum of Dhaka University, social worker Nadia Nivin, and social worker Jayanti Roy, among others, participate in the discussion.