Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus said that Bangladesh's media currently has unparalleled freedom, but a flood of misinformation is sweeping across social media platforms.
He made these remarks during a meeting with leaders from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) on Wednesday, who were in Bangladesh to discuss efforts in economic restructuring, tackling illicit financial flows, combating misinformation, and implementing critical reforms.
The delegation, led by OSF Chairman Alex Soros and President Binaifer Nowrojee expressed their support for the interim government’s reform agenda.
During the meeting, Alex Soros praised Dr Yunus for leading the country through a challenging time in history, taking necessary steps to reorganize national institutions and spearheading reforms essential for economic recovery.
Dr Yunus highlighted that the student-led popular uprising had created a significant opportunity to reshape the nation’s future.
He mentioned that the uprising in July, along with initiatives for interim justice for victims, economic reforms, media freedom, asset recovery, new cybersecurity laws, and addressing the Rohingya crisis, were central topics of discussion.
Alex Soros assured the chief adviser, saying: “We will explore ways to support your efforts in these areas.”
Dr Yunus expressed gratitude to the Open Society Foundations for their continued support, urging them to spread the news of the unprecedented student-led uprising.
He also shared concerns about the limited awareness of the July uprising during his visit to Davos, noting the prevalence of disinformation.
The chief adviser called on the foundations to assist in recovering approximately $234 billion that had been illegally siphoned out of the country during the 16-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.
He added that the interim government had inherited a devastated and war-torn economy, seeking the foundation's support in the rebuilding process.
In response, the Open Society Foundations expressed their readiness to assist Bangladesh in graduating from LDC status, a move that Dr Yunus warmly welcomed.
