The volume of fact-checking reports addressing misinformation in Bangladesh surged by 58% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to a recent report by dismislab. The report identifies misinformation trends in 2024, highlighting people, countries, organisation and key narratives.

Individuals targeted by misinformation in 2024

Dismislab conducted an analysis of the titles of fact-check reports to identify the individuals most frequently targeted by misinformation in 2024. The findings revealed that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amidst the July revolution, was the most frequently targeted figure. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who took on the role of chief advisor to the interim government after Hasina's ouster, was the second most targeted individual. The disinformation campaign against Dr. Yunus primarily gained momentum after August 5, coinciding with the political changeover.

Following Sheikh Hasina and Dr. Yunus, Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal became common subjects of misinformation. Shakib, who joined the Awami League before the 2024 national elections and won a seat, was the focus of false reports and claims throughout the year. The rivalry between Shakib and Tamim, both of whom have large followings among cricket fans, fueled the spread of misinformation. False quotes were frequently attributed to them, and their photos and videos were often edited and used in gambling advertisements.

After the August 5 political changeover, the focus shifted to various advisors of the interim government and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD). Three student leaders who took on advisory roles in the interim government—Asif Mahmud, Nahid Islam, and Mahfuj Alam—became frequent targets of misinformation. False quotes were attributed to them, and there were attempts to portray them as members of Islamic militant organizations. Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, two prominent figures within the student movement, were also subjects of misinformation. In some cases, fake social media accounts created in Sarjis's name spread false information, even reaching mainstream media outlets.

Countries featured in misinformation

According to the report, India emerged as the most frequently mentioned country in misinformation reports throughout 2024. The narratives surrounding India were diverse, touching on a variety of political and social issues. However, the most pervasive topic was the propaganda spread by various Indian media and social media users after August 5. False claims regarding attacks on minorities and communal tensions, along with the attempt to portray Bangladesh as a militant state, were spread.

One of the significant events contributing to misinformation involved the false claims about Sheikh Hasina's stay in India following her departure on August 5, 2024. Various unverified reports suggested that the Bangladesh police force was employing Indians, or that individuals linked to Bangladesh Bank were foreign nationals. In addition, rumors circulated that the Indian army had entered Bangladesh, while claims about Indian aircraft being stationed in the country were also widely spread. After the fall of the Awami League government, similar misinformation suggested that Indian soldiers were withdrawing from Bangladesh, deepening confusion and suspicion on both sides.

During India's national elections, the spread of religious hate speech and misinformation also affected neighboring Bangladesh. False and misleading narratives surfaced around the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which ignited tensions between the two countries. In addition, misinformation related to floods in Bangladesh was attributed to Indian dams, with fake photos and videos spreading across social media, as per the report.

Beyond India, countries like Iran, Palestine, and the United States also featured prominently in misinformation narratives. The religious and geopolitical tensions involving Israel, Palestine, and Iran fueled narratives that were often false or heavily exaggerated. 

Conspiracy theories about the U.S. and its alleged involvement in Bangladesh's political affairs, particularly around the 12th parliamentary election and the control of St. Martin's Island, were circulated widely, as per the report.

Organisations and institutions at the center of misinformation

Among the organisations, the Awami League and its affiliates topped the list. According to the report, misinformation surrounding the Awami League's activities was especially rampant during the July-August movement, where false reports circulated about the deaths of Chhatra League activists at the hands of protesters, as well as false claims that members of the Chhatra League or Jubo League who attacked protesters with firearms were actually members of the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Chhatra Shibir.

After the political changeover on August 5, several old photos and videos of rallies and processions by the Awami League were circulated as recent events, likely to boost the morale of Awami League supporters, as per the report. During the floods in August, images of relief efforts by other organisations were falsely attributed to the Awami League, trying to boost its image.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, misinformation also targeted the Bangladesh Army and Police Force. Rumors about military control over the economy, clashes between the army and Awami League supporters, and the army's involvement in various political and social incidents were widely spread. One key narrative falsely claimed that soldiers had attacked protesters in Gopalganj, leading to exaggerated reports of casualties. The role of the Bangladesh Army in maintaining order after the political changeover was also a major point of misinformation, according to the report.

Other misinformation trends

Throughout 2024, misinformation continued to revolve around various sectors, with a notable increase in the frequency of reports involving Bangladesh's institutions. Educational institutions, particularly Dhaka University, saw a surge in false reports, especially related to student movements and political protests. Additionally, misinformation targeting opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), continued to circulate throughout the year, especially with fake press releases and claims about internal party disputes.

In December 2024, several false claims spread on social media surrounding various events. Fake quotes attributed to Chinmoy Krishna Das were circulated, accompanied by counterfeit photocards bearing the logos of mainstream media outlets, as per the report. Given Chinmoy's previous affiliation with ISKCON, misinformation about the organisation also circulated. One such false claim alleged that weapons had been seized from an ISKCON temple in Sylhet, a district in eastern Bangladesh. Additionally, rumors spread suggesting that ISKCON had received funding from a supermarket chain and Shyamoli Paribahan, an inter-district transport company.

Other fabricated press releases were also circulated, falsely asserting that a Bangladeshi news outlet had labeled ISKCON as a militant organization. Further misinformation claimed that the BNP had called for a ban on the group. These events contributed to a noticeable surge in fact-check reports on religious matters in December, a month in which 29% of all fact-check reports published by Bangladesh-based fact-checking organizations focused on religious topics.

Misinformation involving Pakistan also gained traction after the political changes in Bangladesh, particularly surrounding the arrival of a Pakistani cargo ship in a Bangladeshi port for the first time since 1971. False claims about weapons being transported on the ship or Pakistani military involvement in Bangladesh were widely circulated, with some claiming that the Pakistani army had entered the country under the guise of providing training.

Methodology for analysing misinformation

To assess the misinformation trends of 2024, dismislab used reports from eight prominent fact-checking websites were analysed. The websites included Rumor Scanner, BoomBD, NewsChecker, Fact Crescendo, Fact Watch, AFP Bangladesh, Ajker Patrika, and Dismislab. The reports were categorised into 17 topics, including politics, sports, health, international affairs, and more. A total of 4,699 fact-check reports were published across these websites in 2024, with 3,167 unique reports identified after filtering out repeated claims.