Imagine you live in Satkhira or Cumilla and hear that a hawker eviction drive has begun in Dhaka, a clash has broken out between the city corporation workers and the hawkers, and a lot of people have been injured. Moved by the news, you open Facebook and post a status condemning one side or the other.
Even if you have a moderately large following, your post reaches hundreds of people within minutes, shaping their understanding of an incident you have not independently verified.
But what if the information was misleading, the incident misrepresented or the details incomplete? Unverified posts have been known to incite mob violence, sometimes with fatal results.
That is the problem FREED (Freedom of Expression for Effective Democracy in Bangladesh) seeks to address. Through the project, BBC Media Action, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), is working to strengthen freedom of expression while encouraging people to exercise it responsibly.
"These days, media houses and journalists face increasing competition to break developing stories before anyone else. In the race to be first, the information may turn out to be inaccurate or unauthentic, potentially damaging the credibility of the media house or journalist," said Rashedul Hasan, media development manager at BBC Media Action.
The same problem arises on social media, Rashedul said, where influential individuals can shape public opinion. When a celebrity shares information about a government policy, for instance, a follower may accept it without checking, because the celebrity has already earned their trust. People may then judge the government's performance on unverified claims.
"If you sit at a tea stall and listen to people's conversations, you will notice that everyone has an opinion. Discussing the Iran war, some say the US has enough weapons to suppress Iran. Others blame rising oil prices on hoarding, while some claim Bangladesh produces its own oil and does not need to import it. Where do these beliefs come from? Often, from social media, online pages or unreliable outlets. People hear these claims, believe them and pass them on without verifying whether they are true," he added.
Such beliefs take hold where digital media literacy is weak. When people accept information without verifying it, it can shape public perceptions and political opinions, and ultimately erode trust in both the media and public institutions.
"We work with journalists to help them develop the skills needed to verify facts before publishing or sharing information. Various fact-checking tools and methods are available, but the BBC has its own verification model, which we use to train journalists." Rashedul Hasan, Media Development Manager, BBC Media Action
Teaching verification
A significant part of FREED's work involves journalists, who hold credibility and influence with the public.
"We work with journalists to help them develop the skills needed to verify facts before publishing or sharing information. Various fact-checking tools and methods are available, but the BBC has its own verification model, which we use to train journalists," said Rashedul.
The first step in verifying information is identifying its source. Some media houses have built credibility through consistent, accurate reporting, but anyone anywhere in the world can now create a YouTube channel to share information or offer political analysis. The public does not always distinguish credible sources from those that spread misinformation, so one of the project's key objectives is to help journalists identify reliable sources.
The training aims to be as practical and accessible as possible, avoiding technical complexity.
"A journalist working in a remote area such as Satkhira or Rangamati may not have the expertise or resources to use satellite imagery to verify a claim. So we focus on simple, effective techniques that journalists can realistically apply in their day-to-day work, regardless of location or technical background," said Rashedul.
Two of the methods FREED introduced are 'Pause' and 'Sift'.
Pause asks people to stop and think before sharing. Sift, developed by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield, stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage and Trace claims to their original context. Neither needs advanced technical skills, only critical thinking to spot inconsistencies and question dubious claims.
FREED also promotes respectful communication, particularly where opinions differ.
"Disagreeing with someone or challenging their argument does not require abusive language or labelling them a supporter of a particular ideology. We want to discourage the personalisation of disagreements and encourage people to focus on arguments and evidence rather than attacking individuals," said Rashedul.
"We have often seen people think their opinions will reach a wider audience if they use abusive language or insults. They may feel that adding a few offensive words will attract more attention," he added.
The project also raises awareness of the legal and ethical responsibilities of expressing opinions online.
"Bangladesh has laws and guidelines governing online expression, including provisions on defamation, incitement to violence and certain forms of harmful content. For example, online posts should not incite mob violence or unlawfully damage a person's reputation. Claims that may harm someone's reputation should be backed by credible evidence, particularly in journalistic reporting," he said.
BBC Media Action has run the project for a year and a half and plans to continue for another year and a half. Activities are currently under way in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Dinajpur, Satkhira and Rangamati, and 100 media professionals have been trained so far.
Who gets trained
Journalists at established media houses often have access to training sessions. Whether local journalists get the same opportunity depends on how participants are selected, which in turn shapes the project's reach. Rashedul said applications are assessed against set criteria, but local newspapers are not excluded.
"Our aim is to maximise the reach and impact of the training. If we can select journalists from four newspapers in a district, for example, we consider their readership and reach, including nationally. If we are producing a report on digital media literacy or legal issues, we want it to reach 5,000 people rather than 1,000," he said.
Reach is not the only consideration, however. FREED does not shut out local journalists.
"If we focus exclusively on national media outlets, journalists working for local newspapers such as Dainik Rangamati or Dainik Sunamganjer Kantho may never get the opportunity to participate. So we make a conscious effort to include three or four local journalists in each batch," said Rashedul.
Batches are kept small, usually around 20 participants, to ensure intensive support.
"Within a batch of about 20, we try to maintain a balance among journalists from television, newspapers and local media, ensuring that local journalists are represented," he said.
Women's participation is another selection criterion.
"We make every effort to ensure their participation. Where appropriate, we may allow some flexibility in the selection criteria to create more opportunities for women, as they often do not have the same access to these opportunities as others," Rashedul added.
Protecting journalists through legal support
Journalists often face threats, intimidation or legal action after publishing a report or expressing an opinion. To address this, the project runs a legal help desk through which eligible journalists can seek advice and support from BLAST.
A journalist who reports on pollution caused by a government project, for example, might face legal threats or proceedings after publication. They could contact the help desk for legal advice. Separately, the Bangladesh Institute of Mediation leads the project's mediation component.
Beyond the newsroom
Civil society organisations and human rights defenders also play an important role in raising awareness, challenging injustice and mobilising communities. When responding to an incident or organising a protest, they too must verify information before making public statements, because an inaccurate claim can weaken their credibility and the cause they are advancing. Their security matters as well, as those working on contentious issues can face digital threats.
"A civil society activist who regularly expresses views on a contentious issue may face attempts to compromise their social media account. A hacked account could then be used to publish false statements, circulate messages that contradict the person's beliefs or damage the organisation's reputation," said Rashedul.
"Impersonation is another risk. Someone could create a fake account in an activist's name and use it to spread misleading information," he added.
BBC Media Action works with these groups to help them identify such risks and adopt basic digital security practices. The project aims to support 200 initiatives by civil society organisations and human rights defenders, including public awareness campaigns, competitions, writing activities and other forms of media engagement.
Young people at the centre of change
Young people are another major focus, for two reasons.
"They represent the next generation of community leaders, and they are among those most exposed to the opportunities and risks of the digital environment," said Rashedul.
Because they consume more digital content and news than older generations, they are also more exposed to misinformation and disinformation.
"That is why we want to work with young people from an early stage, to raise their awareness and build their capacity to identify reliable information," he said.
Through peer learning and continued support, they are encouraged to question what they see online, examine the evidence and avoid sharing unverified claims.
Gender sensitivity is another focus.
"Sometimes we fail to recognise gender bias in the way we express our opinions. When the same offence is committed by a man and a woman, people may judge them differently. If a man commits the offence, they may simply discuss the incident. But if a woman does, they may also comment on her character. We want to raise awareness of these biases, particularly in the digital space," Rashedul added.
FREED aims to ensure that the 5,000 young people involved can verify information before sharing it and express their views on national politics, international affairs or any other issue respectfully, without insulting others, causing harm or violating the law.
Ultimately, it hopes to foster a culture in which people verify information before sharing it, recognise credible sources, disagree respectfully and use digital platforms responsibly.