Bangladesh Grapples with Surge of Misinformation in April 2025
DHAKA – The digital landscape in Bangladesh continues to be plagued by a deluge of misinformation, with 296 instances identified in April 2025 by Rumor Scanner, a leading fact-checking organization. This figure closely follows the 298 cases detected in March, highlighting the persistent challenge posed by false information online. The organization’s meticulous efforts involved debunking fabricated narratives surrounding prominent figures like Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, exposing novel methods of political misinformation dissemination using Blogspot, and addressing resurrected rumors related to past events. The organization also published a comprehensive "Fact File" to address the resurgence of old rumors related to Dr. Yunus that gained traction during the Gaza crisis.
National issues dominated the misinformation landscape, accounting for 34% (101 items) of the total. Political misinformation followed closely behind with 95 instances, reflecting the volatile political climate. Other categories included international affairs (38), religion (27), entertainment and literature (8), education (7), fraud (10), and sports (9). The diverse range of topics highlights the pervasive nature of misinformation and its ability to infiltrate various aspects of public discourse.
The majority of misinformation spread through text-based content (138 cases), followed by videos (105 cases) and images (53 cases). This distribution emphasizes the ease with which textual misinformation can be created and disseminated, underscoring the need for enhanced media literacy and critical thinking skills among users to discern credible sources. Rumor Scanner categorized the identified instances based on their nature: 180 were labeled "false," 66 "misleading," and 48 "distorted." Two instances involved sarcastic or humorous posts mistaken as factual information, demonstrating how satire can be misconstrued in the online environment.
Facebook emerged as the primary platform for misinformation, with 276 instances detected, reinforcing concerns about the platform’s role in the propagation of false narratives. YouTube followed with 54 cases, Instagram with 48, X (formerly Twitter) with 44, TikTok with 24, and Threads with 13. The prevalence of misinformation across various social media platforms underscores the need for platform accountability and robust content moderation mechanisms. Worryingly, Rumor Scanner also identified 14 incidents where national media outlets published misinformation, highlighting the crucial need for responsible journalism and rigorous fact-checking within the media industry.
Furthermore, Rumor Scanner documented the concerning trend of misinformation originating from Indian media outlets and social media accounts targeting Bangladesh, with two instances from Indian media and two from Indian social media accounts identified in April. This follows a pattern observed since the previous year, adding another layer of complexity to the fight against misinformation. Communal issues were the subject of 16 instances of misinformation, further emphasizing the potential for such narratives to exacerbate social tensions.
Political targeting was evident in the misinformation landscape, with the interim government, led by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, bearing the brunt of 12 negative instances out of 16 total instances. This represented 83% of the total misinformation targeting the government, raising concerns about potential orchestrated campaigns to discredit the administration. Dr. Yunus himself was targeted in 29 instances, the highest monthly number so far in 2025, with nearly 83% portraying him negatively. Several other government advisors were also targeted, including Dr. Asif Nazrul (three negative instances), Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan (one negative out of two), Syeda Rizwana Hasan (two negative instances), A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, Sk Bashiruddin, and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam (one negative instance each).
Political parties also faced significant disinformation campaigns. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was the most frequently targeted, with 13 negative instances aimed at the party, its leadership including Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, as well as its affiliated student and youth wings. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami faced six negative instances, with similar targeting of its leadership and student wing. Conversely, the Awami League experienced eight instances of disinformation, with 75% portraying the party favorably. Sheikh Hasina, the party president, was the subject of six instances, with 83% positive. The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) was targeted with three negative instances aimed at its leaders.
The state security forces were not immune to misinformation, with the Bangladesh Army facing 16 instances, including six targeting Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, and the Bangladesh Police facing nine instances. The ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ and its spokesperson were targets in two and one incidents respectively.
Technological advancements were also exploited for malicious purposes. Rumor Scanner identified 19 instances of AI-generated fake content and three deepfake videos, highlighting the escalating threat posed by sophisticated disinformation techniques. Global events also fueled misinformation, with 38 instances related to the Gaza crisis and protests in solidarity with Palestine, 11 related to an attack on tourists in Kashmir, and five related to a Sunni congregation in Dhaka.
Finally, the manipulation of media outlets was evident in 62 instances, where fake media names, logos, headlines, and photo cards were used to spread disinformation, with Jamuna TV, Prothom Alo, and Janakantha being the most frequently misused. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat misinformation, involving media literacy initiatives, platform accountability, enhanced fact-checking efforts, and perhaps regulations to curb the spread of manipulated media content, AI-generated fakes, and deepfakes. The persistent high volume of misinformation poses a serious threat to Bangladesh’s democratic processes and social cohesion, necessitating collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to mitigate its impact.