Jahangirnagar University Student Elections Marred by Online Propaganda and Harassment
The upcoming Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) election is facing a significant challenge: the proliferation of misinformation and targeted harassment on Facebook. Numerous pages and groups, often anonymously run, have become breeding grounds for political propaganda, abusive comments, cyberbullying, and personal attacks against candidates. This unregulated online activity threatens to undermine the integrity of the election process and potentially sway the outcome. Candidates have voiced concerns about the escalating situation, warning that the university administration must take decisive action to curb the spread of false information and protect the democratic process.
The absence of clear university guidelines regarding online conduct during elections has created a vacuum that has been filled by malicious actors. What might have started as platforms for constructive discussion have devolved into spaces where specific parties or candidates are relentlessly targeted. Bot networks, automated programs that post, comment, and share content, have been deployed to amplify misinformation and manipulate student opinions. This coordinated online assault has created a chaotic and confusing information environment, particularly challenging for undecided voters attempting to make informed choices.
Candidates from various student political groups have reported being subjected to constant bot attacks. These attacks utilize thousands of fake accounts to spread propaganda and personally defame candidates, potentially influencing election results. Several candidates have identified at least 15 pages and groups, some using makeshift IDs incorporating the university’s abbreviation, as particularly active in these smear campaigns. The anonymous nature of these page administrators makes them difficult to track and hold accountable. They closely monitor campus events, capturing short clips and twisting them out of context to spread online harassment and damage candidates’ reputations.
Female candidates are disproportionately bearing the brunt of these online attacks. They face a barrage of tagging, body-shaming, bullying, rumors, offensive comments, and targeted propaganda. This hostile online environment has created a chilling effect, potentially discouraging women from participating in student politics. Concerns have been raised that the pervasive harassment could lead to lower voter turnout among female students, further undermining the representativeness of the election outcome. Several female candidates have called for immediate action to address this issue and ensure their safety and equal participation in the electoral process.
Recognizing the severity of the problem, some candidate panels have formally requested the election commission to intervene. The Student Unity Forum and the Unity of Harmony panel submitted letters demanding the closure or regulation of these problematic Facebook pages and groups to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. They have proposed several recommendations, including verifying that page administrators are actually university students, monitoring page content for unfair electoral advantage, reporting cyberbullying and harassment to law enforcement, shutting down unauthorized pages with assistance from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and making the identities of page administrators public to increase transparency and accountability.
The university administration and election commission have acknowledged the issue and pledged to take action. A 12-member committee has been formed to revise the Student Discipline Ordinance 2018 to address online bullying, ragging, and other forms of misconduct. The election commission has stated its intention to investigate verified complaints and consult with social media experts to determine appropriate measures against those spreading propaganda and harassment online. The administration has confirmed that strict action will be taken against abusive or fake pages, including potential disciplinary measures and requests to the BTRC for intervention. The effectiveness of these measures in curbing online abuse and ensuring a fair and democratic election remains to be seen.