Since the ousting of long-time Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a notable spread of misinformation from certain Indian media outlets and social media accounts about Bangladesh. Here are some reported instances:
- Misleading Reports on Hindu Persecution: After Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, there were false claims of widespread attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, including fabricated videos and images suggesting a “Hindu genocide.” This misinformation was used to fuel communal tensions, with some Indian media outlets exaggerating or misrepresenting the scale of communal violence, linking it to political changes in Bangladesh.
- Fake News about Political Figures: There were instances where Indian media spread false news about key political figures in Bangladesh’s interim government. For example, there were reports claiming that Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, had fled to France following Donald Trump’s re-election, which was untrue. Another instance involved the misrepresentation of the murder of a Bangladeshi lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif, claiming he was the lawyer for Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader, when this was not the case.
- Fabricated Incidents: Several fabricated stories have been circulated, including false claims about an open letter from Sheikh Hasina, a video misrepresented as showing a Hindu man searching for his son, and misinformation about lifting bans on extremist groups in Bangladesh. Additionally, there were misleading reports about arms smuggling from Pakistan and an assault on a Shyamoli Paribahan bus, among others.
- Disinformation Campaigns: Following political changes, disinformation campaigns have been noted, involving fake news about the arrest of Hindu leaders, attacks on Hindu temples, and even fake news about the Bangladesh Air Force planning to build a significant airbase with Chinese assistance near the Indian border. This disinformation often aimed to undermine the legitimacy of Bangladesh’s interim government or to stoke communal tensions.
- Social Media Misinformation: On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), there have been instances where old or unrelated images and videos were shared with misleading captions to suggest communal violence or persecution in Bangladesh, further exacerbated by far-right accounts from India.
The spread of such misinformation has been criticized for contributing to bilateral tensions, and communal discord, and for attempting to destabilize the political situation in Bangladesh. Fact-checking organizations like Rumor Scanner have been instrumental in identifying and debunking these false narratives. The motives behind such disinformation are often seen as attempts to influence public opinion, support specific political agendas, or to exploit sensitive issues like minority rights for political gain.
