DHAKA, April 20 (V7N) — Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon announced in Parliament today that the government will introduce a minimum educational qualification for professional journalists and create an online journalist database to improve standards and curb fake journalism.

The Bangladesh Press Council has taken the lead in setting qualifications in the era of free information flow.

Journalists will receive training through the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) on AI in journalism, narrative building, information policy, and multimedia reporting.

Six workshops are held monthly — four outside Dhaka and two inside — along with regular sessions involving journalist leaders.

Cooperation has been strengthened with international media, and preparations are underway for seminars with fact-checking organizations and mainstream outlets to combat misinformation.

The Press Information Department has distributed 22 photocards and 10 information bulletins on rumor prevention to national dailies and online portals. Under the Press Council Act, individuals or organizations can file complaints against journalists or editors for violating ethics or public decency. Currently, eight complaints are pending.
Training and welfare

Training workshops have been organized in 32 districts, involving print and electronic media journalists.

The Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust has provided financial assistance to 1,110 sick, insolvent, and injured journalists, as well as families of deceased journalists.

Scholarships worth Tk 73.26 lakh have been awarded to 402 children of journalists.During Ramadan, iftar and Eid gifts worth Tk 1.2 crore were distributed among 2,000 journalist families. Swapon said steps are being taken to amend the Press Council Act of 1974.

END/AJ/RH