In December 2019, the outbreak of the coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China. The deadly virus soon spread across China and later to other countries. On March 8 of the following year, the first COVID-19 case was identified in Bangladesh. Within a week, educational institutions were ordered to close. Alongside the fear of infection and death, misinformation was rampant, causing public confusion. It was during this critical time that Rumor Scanner began its journey. Established as an independent journalism initiative on March 17, the primary goal of Rumor Scanner was set from the outset—to eliminate ongoing misinformation and fake news in the country and deliver accurate information to the public. The first major challenge was combating COVID-related misinformation. Fake news about infections, deaths, and false remedies became a daily occurrence. Rumor Scanner tirelessly worked to debunk these rumors and provide netizens with accurate information. As part of this effort, we did not limit ourselves to publishing fact-checks only on our website. We aimed to ensure that the maximum number of people could quickly become aware of misinformation in the shortest possible time. Consequently, we were the first fact-checking organization in Bangladesh to publish fact-check stories through digital banners on Facebook, in addition to web content. Since our launch (March 17, 2020), Rumor Scanner has regularly published fact-check banners on important issues across Facebook and other social media platforms.
In our first year, we published 84 fact-check reports. As recognition for our consistent work, on July 28, 2021, we became the second fact-checking organization in Bangladesh to be verified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). In our second year, we set a record by publishing 5.5 times more fact-check reports compared to the previous year.
In June 2022, the Padma Bridge was inaugurated. From its construction phase to various later incidents, numerous rumors surfaced. Rumor Scanner actively identified and debunked these misinformation campaigns. That year, we also expanded our work beyond regular fact-checking to address widely held myths. We investigated whether tasting salt in food is harmful (source), whether eating eggs before an exam affected performance (source), and whether newborns should be given honey (source). In total, we worked on over 20 such myths in that year alone (best myths of 2022).
Errors in Bangladeshi textbooks have been a subject of criticism for years. In 2022, Rumor Scanner became the first fact-checking organization in Bangladesh to investigate and fact-check errors in textbooks. So far, we have published 14 fact-check reports on this issue. Our work on misinformation related to the 2023 new education curriculum was recognized when we received the Positive Influencer Award in December of that year.
The spread of rumors during conflicts, crises, or global events has become a common pattern. Such a surge was witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, the world saw a flood of misinformation surrounding events like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Palestine-Israel crisis. Rumor Scanner closely monitored these waves of misinformation and regularly worked to address them.
In January 2024, Bangladesh held its 12th national parliamentary elections. For the first time, multiple fact-checking organizations in the country dedicatedly covered a national election. It was an intense period of work, and Rumor Scanner fact-checked over 400 election-related claims.
Throughout 2024, we undertook several initiatives of public importance. One of these was the creation of a dedicated Investigation Unit, which has published nine investigative reports so far. One notable report in August highlighted misinformation spread by Indian accounts on X (formerly Twitter), which stirred significant discussion.
In August of last year, a mass uprising by students and the public led to the fall of the Awami League government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Before and after the interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, assumed responsibility, incidents of political violence increased, taking advantage of the inaction of law enforcement agencies. During that time, religious minorities were also attacked. However, Rumor Scanner’s investigations revealed that many of these attacks on Hindu individuals were politically motivated or driven by personal vendettas, yet were falsely portrayed as communal violence. A major role in this misinformation was played by India-based X (formerly Twitter) accounts and several Indian media outlets. This marked the beginning of a flood of disinformation originating from Indian sources. In August, Rumor Scanner’s Investigation Unit identified 50 X accounts that had circulated various images, videos, and information related to the events in Bangladesh, presenting them with a communal spin. Rumor Scanner found that each of these accounts had at least one post spreading communal disinformation or false claims. This report sparked significant discussion both at home and abroad. In January of this year, a statistical analysis by Rumor Scanner revealed that, on average, Indian sources spread one false claim about Bangladesh every 2.5 days over the past year. Among them, 72 Indian media outlets published 137 misleading reports on 32 different topics related to Bangladesh. Rumor Scanner regularly publishes such issue-based statistical reports. Over the past five years, Rumor Scanner has published nearly 7,000 reports. We have worked on countless topics—from simple misinformation to historical myths and widely circulated falsehoods on significant issues. Some investigations were so challenging that they took days, and in some cases, months to complete. But we believed that no matter how long it took, the truth must be revealed and confusion must be dispelled. That’s why we never gave up. Eventually, our relentless efforts led to results and solutions.
Outside of our regular work, Rumor Scanner launched a separate initiative to create memes focused on fact-checking rumors, and it quickly gained traction. The goal here is public-friendly—we aim to raise awareness and help people stay away from misinformation through humor. Last year, we also launched a free weekly newsletter. Rumor Scanner does not want to remain focused solely on fact-checking. These initiatives are a reflection of that broader mission. Our aim is not just to deliver accurate information, but to ensure that people truly benefit from our efforts. With that goal in mind, we continue to explore every possible avenue and engage with all sectors of society.
On March 17, Rumor Scanner stepped into its sixth year. In this ongoing fight against misinformation in Bangladesh, one of the largest initiatives of its kind, we—all of us, whether team members, supporters, or well-wishers—are part of this journey together.
The Rumor Scanner team believes that our tireless efforts have, at the very least, had a positive impact on society. People are becoming more aware and increasingly interested in verifying information. Let this neutral and unwavering fight against misinformation and disinformation continue. May this journey of progress grow even stronger and more meaningful in the days ahead.
