A Record-Breaking 2,919 Cases of Misinformation Identified

The chain of events began with Bangladesh’s 12th National Parliamentary Election, followed by a persistent surge of misinformation intertwined with various unfolding issues. However, the historic months of July and August proved pivotal. The quota reform movement ignited a mass student uprising that ultimately led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government after a prolonged period in power. In the aftermath, an interim government led by Dr. Yunus assumed state authority. Following this political shift, several Indian media outlets and X accounts launched a coordinated wave of communal propaganda targeting Bangladesh. Amid these turbulent developments, 2024 drew to a close. Throughout the year, Bangladesh’s leading fact-checking organization, Rumor Scanner, worked relentlessly to combat the spread of misinformation, identifying a record-breaking 2,919 instances of false claims— a sharp rise from the 1,915 cases reported in 2023, reflecting a staggering 52% surge in misinformation within a year.

Social Media Flooded with Communal Misinformation

Facebook, the most widely used social media platform in Bangladesh, was the leading source of misinformation in 2024, with 2,330 documented cases—averaging more than six false claims circulated on the platform every day. Following Facebook, YouTube ranked second among individual platforms, contributing 565 instances of misinformation, while TikTok closely followed with 509 cases identified over a six-month period.

X (formerly Twitter) also emerged as a significant source of misinformation about Bangladesh last year. Rumor Scanner identified and reported 201 cases of misinformation on the platform. Other social media platforms, though less popular in Bangladesh, displayed considerably lower rates of false information circulation.

Beyond social media, mainstream media outlets also played a role in spreading misinformation. In 2024, 151 instances of false claims were detected in reports published by various Bangladeshi media organizations. 

Types of Misinformation Identified

An analysis of Rumor Scanner’s 2024 reports reveals that 2,028 instances of misinformation were identified as entirely false or fabricated events. Additionally, 533 cases were categorized as misleading, while 308 were marked as altered. Only three cases were rated as mostly false. Furthermore, 31 fact-checks addressed satirical or humorous content that had been misinterpreted as factual claims. Two reports were also published where fact-checking determined the claims to be partially true.

Political Disinformation Dominates Amid Power Transition

On January 7, 2024, Bangladesh held its 12th National Parliamentary Election, during which Rumor Scanner identified 91 instances of misinformation. The spread of political disinformation escalated significantly both before and after the fall of the Awami League government in August. During the critical months of July and August, 128 cases of political disinformation were recorded. While the earlier months of the year saw a relatively lower volume of such false claims, the trend surged notably in the months following August.

By the end of the year, Rumor Scanner had identified a total of 727 instances of political misinformation, making it the most affected category compared to all others. August recorded the sharpest spike, with 386 cases documented. Among specific categories, national issues saw the highest concentration of misinformation in a single month, with 150 cases reported in August alone.

Data: Rumor Scanner  

Third Quarter Sees the Most Misinformation

The third quarter of 2024 witnessed the highest surge in misinformation, with 847 cases identified. This period coincided with intense political unrest in Bangladesh, beginning with the quota reform movement and culminating in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August. In the immediate aftermath, as law and order deteriorated, the spread of communal disinformation, particularly on X, escalated noticeably. Even after the interim government took office, false claims targeting the new administration persisted. These factors collectively drove the sharp rise in misinformation during the third quarter.

Awami League Faced the Most Political Misinformation

In Bangladesh, misinformation and rumors often target the ruling party and its prominent figures due to their visibility and public activities. An analysis of Rumor Scanner’s reports from last year shows that the Awami League was the most targeted political entity, with 44 instances of misinformation directly linked to the party. Additionally, 409 false claims targeted its leaders and activists, while 57 cases were associated with its affiliated and allied organizations. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was personally targeted in 208 instances of disinformation. Other figures connected to the party also faced significant misinformation, including Sayedul Haque Suman (49 cases), Obaidul Quader (34 cases), Sajeeb Wazed Joy (20 cases), and cricketer Shakib Al Hasan (23 cases).

During the first seven months of 2024, while the Awami League remained in power, the spread of misinformation against the party remained at predictable levels. However, the volume did not decrease after the party lost power on August 5. Key contributors to this continued flow included viral videos falsely claiming Sheikh Hasina was livestreaming from India and others misrepresenting her return to Bangladesh, alongside a sustained effort to portray her positively through fabricated content. Misinformation also surged following the ban on the Bangladesh Chhatra League, with campaigns defending the organization. Additionally, national observances such as Noor Hossain Day and major events like the August floods triggered misinformation spikes. Consequently, the volume of false claims targeting the Awami League remained consistently high throughout the year, with no significant difference between the first and last six months.

Data: Rumor Scanner 

No Significant Difference in Misinformation About BNP

In the first six months, there were 74 instances of misinformation involving BNP as a party, its leaders and activists, and its affiliated organizations. By the end of the year, this number had reached 130. During this period, Rumor Scanner identified the highest number of misinformation cases involving the party’s chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, totaling 29 instances. Additionally, 12 cases were linked to Tarique Rahman, 20 to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and 15 to Rumeen Farhana.

Jamaat-e-Islami Sees a Surge in Misinformation in the Last Six Months

Among political parties, Jamaat-e-Islami experienced a significant increase in misinformation during the last six months compared to the first half of the year. Initially, there were only nine cases of misinformation involving the party, its leaders, and affiliated organizations. By the end of the year, this number had increased nearly ninefold. Jamaat’s renewed political activity after August was a key factor behind this rise. Rumor Scanner found 11 instances of misinformation about the party’s Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

Other Political Figures Targeted

Among other political groups, seven cases of misinformation were linked to Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Odhikar Parishad. Additionally, one instance each was identified involving Andaleeve Rahman Partho (Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party), Asaduzzaman Fuaad (Joint Secretary of AB Party), and Mahmudur Rahman Manna (President of Nagorik Oikya).

Timeline of Misinformation During the Quota Reform Movement and Sheikh Hasina’s Fall

The quota reform movement began on June 5 last year. In July, Dhaka University students organized under the banner of the “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs and the reinstatement of the 2018 government notification. Protests spread across the country, and when law enforcement and government-aligned activists tried to suppress the movement, violence erupted, resulting in numerous deaths and thousands of injuries. Over weeks, the protests escalated into a mass uprising, ending Awami League’s 15-year rule.

Whenever a major issue arises, it naturally becomes a breeding ground for rumors. As a fact-checking organization, Rumor Scanner drew on its prior experience to monitor this issue closely. The first misinformation regarding the movement was identified on July 11. Subsequently, Rumor Scanner identified multiple falsehoods related to the movement almost daily in July. The flow of misinformation was so overwhelming that Rumor Scanner launched a live update page on July 16 (Live Updates) to provide real-time updates, including facts about falsehoods and reliable information regarding casualties.

Rumor Scanner identified 189 pieces of misinformation related to the movement. On August 5, the mass uprising led to Sheikh Hasina and her government’s fall. Even after this event, misinformation continued to spread, prompting Rumor Scanner to publish 67 reports.

Collage: Rumor Scanner  

The ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ played a pivotal role during the quota reform movement and the subsequent fall of the government. In July, students demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs established the organization by forming a 65-member coordination committee. Rumor Scanner identified 24 instances of misinformation linked to the organization, along with 83 false claims targeting its leaders. Among these, 36 were related to Sarjis Alam, 24 to Hasnat Abdullah, 6 to Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, 5 to Nusrat Tabassum, 3 to Nahid Islam, and 2 to Tariqul Islam. Additionally, one instance of misinformation was recorded involving each of the following individuals: Md. Abu Baker Mojumder, Khan Talat Mahmud Rafy, Mahfuz Alam, Abdul Hannan Masud, Umama Fatema, Sajidul Islam Bappi, and Yasmin Mitu.

Misinformation Surrounding Casualties During July-August Protests

During the July-August protests, many lives were lost. Among those, eight pieces of misinformation were identified involving Abu Sayed from Rangpur, and five involving Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho from Dhaka.

Over 100 Cases of Misinformation About the Interim Government in Four Months

After the fall of the Awami League government, the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus assumed power on August 8. Over the next four months, Rumor Scanner identified 135 instances of misinformation involving this government. Within the first 146 days of the government (up to December 31), 110 pieces of misinformation were linked to Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus.

Additionally, the government’s advisors were targeted: 24 cases involving Dr. Asif Nazrul, 13 involving Nahid Islam, six each involving Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, five involving Mahfuz Alam, four involving Syeda Rizwana Hasan, two involving A F M Khalid Hossain, and one each involving M Sakhawat Hussain, Nurjahan Begum, and Sheikh Bashir Uddin.

Communal Misinformation Spread by Indian Accounts

Communal misinformation has become a pressing concern, especially during periods of political instability. Since last August, coinciding with significant political changes, the spread of such misinformation has surged alarmingly. Rumor Scanner identified 29 instances of communal misinformation in the first half of the previous year. However, in the subsequent six months, this number increased more than fivefold. Following the departure of the Awami League government on August 5, a three-day period of political vacuum saw widespread violence and looting across the country, including attacks on the residences and establishments of individuals from various religious communities. During this unrest, the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) emerged as a major hub for disseminating communal misinformation. The Rumor Scanner Investigation Unit identified 50 X accounts involved in spreading communal narratives by misrepresenting images, videos, and reports of the ongoing events in Bangladesh. Each of these accounts was found to have posted at least one instance of communal misinformation. Further analysis revealed that 72% of these account holders claimed to be based in India, including several individuals holding positions of influence. Alarmingly, multiple mainstream Indian media outlets were also found to have propagated these false narratives.

The spread of communal misinformation involving both India and Bangladesh is not a recent development. However, the surge in false narratives within a short span following August presented a significant challenge for Rumor Scanner. The team worked relentlessly, day and night, to counter the spread of such misinformation.

A renewed wave of misinformation, primarily driven by Indian sources, emerged in late November. On November 25, Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagran Jote, was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) in a sedition case over allegations of desecrating the national flag. The following day, a Chattogram court denied his bail and ordered his imprisonment. This led to heightened tensions within the court premises, triggering protests, clashes, and the fatal stabbing of lawyer Saiful Islam. The incident became the focal point of a misinformation campaign, with numerous Indian mainstream media outlets and X accounts amplifying false narratives around the events. In December, Rumor Scanner released a list of 49 Indian media outlets that had disseminated 13 fabricated stories about Bangladesh between August 12 and December 5. Their analysis further revealed that misinformation targeting Bangladesh on X during this period had amassed at least 200 million views.

No Sector Excluded From the Flow of Misinformation

An analysis of Rumor Scanner’s 2024 reports reveals that Sheikh Hasina was the most frequently targeted individual with misinformation, being linked to 208 false claims. Dr. Muhammad Yunus ranked second on the list, being associated with 116 instances of misinformation, followed by Shakib Al Hasan with 98 cases. These three figures also held the top positions within the political sphere regarding misinformation targeting. However, in the national context, Dr. Muhammad Yunus topped the list, followed by Sarjis Alam in second place. Dr. Asif Nazrul and Hasnat Abdullah shared the third position for the highest number of misinformation cases linked to their names.

Data: Rumor Scanner 

Rumor Scanner identified 174 instances of misinformation involving the armed forces and law enforcement agencies last year. Among these, the Bangladesh Army was the most targeted, with 97 cases of misinformation. Seven false claims were linked to the former chief, General (Retd.) SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, while 19 were related to the current chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

Additionally, 50 instances of misinformation were recorded involving the Bangladesh Police, including 7 concerning former Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun Or Rashid and 2 about former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Moinul Islam. Five cases each involved the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), while 4 cases each targeted the Bangladesh Navy and Ansar & Village Defence Party. Rumor Scanner also identified one instance of misinformation involving each of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), Bangladesh Armed Forces, and Bangladesh Air Force.

Regarding infrastructure, Dhaka Metro Rail faced the highest volume of misinformation, with 25 cases. This was followed by 8 cases involving the Karnaphuli Tunnel, 4 concerning the Padma Bridge, and 2 related to the Bangabandhu Satellite.

Religious topics were also heavily targeted by misinformation, with 313 instances identified last year. Among these, 23 false claims were linked to Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, while 38 cases of misinformation were associated with Ramadan. Durga Puja was targeted with 13 instances of misinformation. The most targeted individual in religious contexts was Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagran Jote, with 9 cases of misinformation recorded against him.

In the education sector, misinformation surrounding public and admission examinations persisted in 2024. Eleven instances each were identified regarding the SSC and HSC exams, 2 concerning the JSC exam, and 1 involving the PEC exam. Rumor Scanner also identified 13 cases of misinformation related to Bangladesh’s new education curriculum. Eight fact-checks were conducted on identified errors in textbooks, three of which were later acknowledged and corrected by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) through an amendment issued via the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE). Additionally, 7 cases of misinformation were linked to exam paper leaks, 4 to medical admission tests, and 3 to cluster admission tests.

Last year, Rumor Scanner identified 476 cases of misinformation in the sports sector. Cricket and football were the most affected, with cricket seeing a higher volume of false claims. Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan was the most targeted, with 75 instances of misinformation, followed by Tamim Iqbal with 45 cases and Mustafizur Rahman with 24. In football, the most targeted athletes were Lionel Messi of Argentina (14 cases), Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (13 cases), and Neymar Jr. of Brazil (3 cases).

The entertainment and literary sectors also saw significant misinformation activity. Rumor Scanner identified 266 instances of misinformation in these fields throughout 2024. The most targeted figure was actor Shakib Khan, linked to 17 cases of misinformation, followed by actress Shobnom Bubly with 16 cases and actress Pori Moni with 10 cases.

Recurring Issues Accompanied by Misinformation

Over the past year, various issues sparked significant online activity across Bangladesh. In January alone, five major issues were identified based on both domestic and international events. The following months saw varying levels of activity, with three issues in February, one in March, five in April, four in May, three in June, two in July, five in August, four in September, two in October, and six in November. Across these issues, Rumor Scanner identified a total of 820 instances of misinformation. The highest concentration was linked to the quota reform movement (189 cases), followed by misinformation surrounding various flood events (101 cases) and the parliamentary elections (91 cases).

Data: Rumor Scanner  

Fraud and Fake Recruitment Scams

Fraudsters are continuously evolving their tactics to deceive the public. Last year, the rise of fake advertisements for gambling apps featuring celebrities became a major concern in the landscape of online scams. In 2024, Rumor Scanner identified nearly fifty deceptive videos related to gambling advertisements. These videos increasingly utilized artificial intelligence to manipulate the likenesses of cricketers, entertainment figures, and even government officials, enhancing their credibility to mislead viewers. Prominent individuals misrepresented in these fake promotional videos included cricketers Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, and Mustafizur Rahman; actors Shakib Khan and Monowar Hossain Dipjol; singer Tahsan Rahman Khan; former RAB spokesperson Khandaker Al Moin; current BTRC Chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed; and content creators Tawhid Afridi and Iftekhar Rafsan. These deceptive advertisements extended beyond the misuse of celebrity identities. Several instances involved the unauthorized use of logos, branding, and unrelated footage from reputable media outlets, further amplifying the illusion of authenticity. Many of these ads were promoted on Facebook through paid campaigns, reaching millions of users.

Another alarming area of fraud last year involved fake job advertisements. Rumor Scanner identified 120 cases where scammers used the names of public and private institutions to post fake job circulars on Facebook, leading to financial exploitation. The Rumor Scanner Investigation Unit conducted an extensive probe into this issue, revealing that the names and logos of seven city corporations, at least 20 municipalities, around 60 hospitals, and 20 passport offices were fraudulently used in these fake job postings. On May 26, Rumor Scanner published an investigative report detailing the scope of the recruitment scams. Following the investigation, on June 8, a young man named Tawhid was arrested by the police for his involvement in these fraudulent activities.

Misuse of Technology and Media in Misinformation

The spread and manipulation of misinformation through artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology were notably significant in 2024. Rumor Scanner identified three deepfake videos specifically linked to the January parliamentary election alone. Beyond that, nine additional deepfake videos targeting individuals from political and entertainment circles were identified throughout the year. The misuse of AI technology for misinformation has become increasingly common, with 107 instances of misinformation involving AI manipulation detected last year.

Beyond the misuse of modern technologies for spreading misinformation, another growing concern has been the exploitation of media outlets to disseminate false information. Content never published by credible media houses has been falsely attributed to them and widely circulated on social media platforms. This trend, observed since 2023, involves the manipulation of media logos, headlines, old footage, and fabricated photocard designs to create misleading narratives. Rumor Scanner identified 505 such cases last year alone, indicating that, on average, more than one piece of misinformation per day was deliberately spread using fabricated media associations to mislead the public.

আরও পড়ুন

spot_img