Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and joint convener of the National Editors Council, emphasized that newspapers must not become party mouthpieces or engage in anti-state or anti-public activities while shaping narratives. He made these remarks on Wednesday morning at a workshop on digital journalism, AI, and fact-checking organized by the National Editors Council in collaboration with the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB).

Rahman said the press, as the fourth pillar of the state, has suffered decline over the past 16 years and must be restored to credibility. He urged journalists to remain honest, skilled, and dedicated to their profession. PIB Director General Faruk Wasif noted that journalists now need fact-checking skills and said PIB has trained 7,000–8,000 journalists in the past two years. Other speakers highlighted the growing importance of AI and fact-checking in combating misinformation.

The two-day workshop included hands-on sessions on AI tools, Google Trends, and Notebook LM, with 29 senior sub-editors and staff reporters participating. The second day will focus on fact-checking principles, data security, and journalistic ethics.