The trend of spreading unverified death news about celebrities on social media is nothing new. This time, the target of such disinformation was legendary film actor and Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nishcha) movement leader Ilias Kanchan.
Central leaders of Nishcha, along with activists from nearly 120 chapters nationwide, have strongly condemned and protested the false death news that spread about him.
Nishcha said Ilias Kanchan, who is undergoing treatment in London, is well and in good health. Yet the sensitive news of his death spread on social media without any proper verification, causing concern and anger among the organization’s leaders, activists, well-wishers and the general public.
Nishcha’s leaders questioned how a living person could be declared dead and reported as such without verification. In their view, this is not merely irresponsible — it is also a cruel blow to the feelings of a person’s family, relatives, colleagues and the countless people who care about him.
The organization said verifying information is a fundamental duty of journalism when publishing news. Particularly for sensitive matters such as a death, accident or serious illness, it is essential to confirm the information through family, close associates, relevant institutions or reliable sources before publishing. But in Ilias Kanchan’s case, even that minimal level of verification was absent.
Nishcha Secretary General Liton Ershad said the race to be “first with the news” can never be a substitute for truthful, responsible journalism. In his view, ensuring a report is true matters far more than publishing it quickly — especially on matters such as death or illness, where speculative or unverified information is never acceptable.
He further said Ilias Kanchan is not just a popular actor but an important figure who has long led the country’s road safety movement. Countless people feel deep emotional attachment to him. As a result, false death news about him can instantly create panic and grief among the public.
Nishcha’s leaders also said that even if a mistake is later acknowledged, the psychological distress or panic caused by such news can never be fully undone. While false information can spread on social media within moments, its negative impact affects a great many people. Over the false death news published and circulated about Ilias Kanchan, Nishcha’s central leadership along with activists from nearly 120 chapters have voiced strong protest. They believe spreading death news about a living person cannot be dismissed as a mere mistake — it reflects extreme irresponsibility in news reporting. They likewise described spreading such unverified information on social media as unethical and harmful.
Nishcha has urged the public and Ilias Kanchan’s well-wishers not to believe or share any death news seen circulating on social media, and to confirm the authenticity of any information from a reliable source before sharing it.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report