—Tanjim Hasan Patwary—

Media works as an intermediary between the wheel of events and the mass people to transmit news or motion from time to time, which undoubtedly smooths the way for the thirst to know the ongoing phenomena in the world. In the era of globalisation, geopolitical issues are becoming critical, often relating to the mutual interests of different countries, sometimes allowing them to interfere in a foreign country’s diplomacy.

From that viewpoint, the media can be a functional haunt for publishing the truth, which may create a worldwide public clench. On the other hand, yellow media destroys the pillar of good governance and pelts nations into an information gap, which sometimes creates conflicts among different countries. Though every country has media in their own language, English-language media may be an advantage in this regard to represent a country’s true incidents worldwide, as this is an internationally recognised language for communication.

In terms of Bangladesh, the role of English media is extremely significant, as foreign media often intentionally spread wrong information about Bangladesh’s internal workflows to satisfy their own agenda. It is true that Bangladesh has a number of electronic and print media, but the number is not satisfactory when talking about English-language media. In spite of having some English newspapers in Bangladesh, there is a lack of English satellite TV channels here. As a result, the true facts of this country do not always reach the global stage, which creates obstacles to fighting against foreign propaganda.

According to Rumor Scanner, 148 rumours were spread through different media in a neighbouring country in 2024 regarding Bangladesh. Numerous media outlets spread fake news on Bangladesh’s internal issues. Especially, after the fall of the last regime, the number of rumours increased in our neighbouring country’s media. Now, the question is how Bangladesh can tackle those rumours that are spread intentionally by foreign media.

Bangladesh needs some strategic aspects in this regard so that the real facts spread quickly to the global stage; therefore, new English media are essential for Bangladesh. As Bangla news does not reach worldwide quickly, having a number of English media outlets may be an effective tool to tackle the rumours.

To counter foreign propaganda, English-language media in Bangladesh must powerfully broadcast our narrative worldwide. We need a greater volume of content to build domain authority via SEO, with strategic placements on YouTube, op-eds in global magazines and targeted Facebook outreach.

To effectively manage the spread of misinformation and counter foreign propaganda, it is crucial for Bangladesh to not only invest in English-language media outlets but also in building a strong workforce of skilled professionals in the English media sector. The country needs to nurture a pool of qualified journalists, media managers, content creators, and technical experts who can produce high-quality, accurate content that resonates with a global audience. Professionals trained in English media can ensure that Bangladesh’s perspective is communicated accurately and compellingly on international platforms. By offering specialised training programmes, scholarships, and incentives, Bangladesh can cultivate a generation of media professionals who are capable of defending the country’s narrative, engaging in international dialogue, and combating the spread of fake news.

This investment in human capital will not only help improve the quality of English media but also enhance the credibility and influence of Bangladesh on the world stage. We live in a time, where misinformation spreads rapidly, the government must prioritise the development of media talent to strengthen the country’s global presence and safeguard its image.

The government, private sector, and media entrepreneurs must collaborate to establish and support English-language news platforms and build a strong workforce around it, ensuring they have adequate funding, skilled professionals, and global reach. By increasing investment in English media and its professionals, Bangladesh can effectively counter misinformation, strengthen its international presence, and safeguard its national image. Furthermore, this will serve as a powerful medium to showcase the country’s real progress, achievements, and public mandates to the global audience.