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Message from the Chief Advisor

Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin

Chief Advisor and Founder Vice Chancellor
East West University

I am delighted to know that the Department of Information Studies and Library Management, East West

University is going to celebrate the eighth annual global celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy
(MIL) Week from 24 to 31 October 2020, under the theme “Resisting Disinfodemic: Media and Information
Literacy for everyone and, by everyone”. The yearly Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week,

initiated in 2012, is led by UNESCO in cooperation with the Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and
Information Literacy GAPMIL. For nine years, UNESCO and many partners have been promoting awareness
about media and information literacy (MIL) through celebrating the Global MIL Week. This year’s theme for

Global MIL Week 2020 highlights how we can address disinformation by recognizing our shared interest in
improving everyone’s competence to understand the opportunities and risks pertaining in today’s scenario of

communication, technology and information. It is essential for every citizen to acquire such competence to
empower him/her to engage in media development, access to information and knowledge, freedom of
expression, and win the war against disinformation.

It gives me immense pleasure to recognize that the Department of Information Studies and Library

Management at East West University is the pioneer among the universities of Bangladesh in celebrating this
day every year since 2017 to promote, engage and foster an information literate society. The Department with
their varied range of activities to celebrate the day has caught attention from the UNESCO and has secured a

mention in their list of “events around the world”. East West University has always played a pivotal role in
nation building by empowering the youth and constructing them as global citizens. In this Covid-19 torn
world, East West University and its Department of Information Studies and Library Management have taken

a lead role in informing the community about the wave of Misinformation, Disinformation and Fake News
surrounding the pandemic. Media and Information Literacy (MIL) can help to address these challenges and
improve the competence to empower the citizens to survive this flow of disinfodemic. This knowledge can

help in accelerating the progress towards achieving the SDGs as well.

My warmest wishes to the Department of Information Studies and Library Management, East West University
for organizing this week-long program to address an issue of vital importance.

(Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin)

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