Ilias Kanchan’s death rumour sparks outrage

Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA) has strongly condemned and protested against false and misleading reports circulating on social media claiming that legendary actor and social activist Ilias Kanchan has died. Around 120 NISCHA branches across the country have joined the protest.

Ilias Kanchan, who is currently undergoing treatment in London, is alive and well. However, the circulation of such a sensitive report about his death without proper verification has caused anger and concern among NISCHA members.

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NISCHA Secretary General Liton Ershad told The Daily Star that the race to be the first to break a story can never be a substitute for truthful and responsible journalism.

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“Ensuring that a report is true is far more important than publishing it quickly. Particularly in sensitive cases involving death, accidents or illness, publishing unverified or speculative information is completely unacceptable,” he said.

He added, “Ilias Kanchan is not only a popular actor; he has also led the country’s road safety movement for many years. He has a deep emotional connection with countless people across the country. As a result, a false report of his death can create an atmosphere of panic and grief within minutes.

“It takes only a few minutes for false information to spread on social media, but who will take responsibility for the pain it causes to so many people? Publishing false reports about someone’s death and later saying that the information was incorrect cannot undo the emotional distress or panic caused.”