Yunus calls on UN to promote media self-regulation to tackle disinformation

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged the United Nations (UN) to take a more active role in combating disinformation by supporting ethical journalism and promoting self-regulation in the media sector.

Dr. Yunus made the appeal during a meeting with UNESCO officials Susan Vize, Head of Office and Representative to Bangladesh, and Mehdi Benchelah, Senior Project Officer for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists. The meeting was held at the State Guest House Jamuna, ahead of the launch of a report on Bangladesh’s media landscape.

The report, titled “An Assessment of Bangladesh’s Media Landscape: Focusing on Free, Independent and Pluralistic Media,” has been jointly prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNESCO.

“We are really looking forward to the report,” said Dr. Yunus. “Our main problem is disinformation and fake news. Some of it originates abroad, some is local. It’s a continuous bombardment.”

He noted that both digital platforms and mainstream media contribute to the spread of misinformation and urged the UN to address this by engaging with media outlets as well as governments.

“You can’t just talk with the government; you need to talk with the media too,” he said. “If a media outlet consistently spreads disinformation, it should be reminded it is not trustworthy. We need your support—your voice matters.”

UNESCO’s Vize said the forthcoming report highlights the importance of media self-regulation and outlines key recommendations aligned with international standards.

“The report assesses what is working and what is not, and stresses the need to train officials, law enforcers, and the judiciary to align with global best practices,” she said.

Benchelah added that the report also addresses journalists’ working conditions and the safety of female journalists, which he described as a global concern. “Government action can have a major impact in these areas,” he said.

The report is being released under the framework of UNDP’s Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) project and aligns with UNESCO’s mandate to promote freedom of expression and media development.