[🇧🇩] Disinformation/Misinformation about Bangladesh in Local/Indian Media

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CA press wing debunks Indian newspaper’s report about Bangladesh

Indian newspaper The Tribune report headlined ‘ISI, Bangladesh operatives teaming up to revive ULFA camps near Assam border’ was a fake one, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing has said. The Tribune newspaper in New Delhi has run the front-page story claiming that ISI and Bangladesh operati

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

CA press wing debunks Indian newspaper’s report about Bangladesh
BSS
Published :
Mar 02, 2025 19:12
Updated :
Mar 02, 2025 19:12

Indian newspaper The Tribune report headlined ‘ISI, Bangladesh operatives teaming up to revive ULFA camps near Assam border’ was a fake one, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing has said.

The Tribune newspaper in New Delhi has run the front-page story claiming that ISI and Bangladesh operatives are teaming up to revive ULFA camps.

"As with other stories in this genre that has exploded since Bangladeshis overthrew the corrupt and brutal regime of Sheikh Hasina, no evidence is provided and no named sources endorsed its plotline," the press wing said in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page - CA Press Wing Facts - on Saturday.

In fact, it said, the only source who is quoted, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, says he doesn't believe the leader of the ULFA, Paresh Baruah, has any desire to resume his previous militant activities.

"The Tribune story claims 'Intelligence agencies suspect that Baruah may soon be released', when in fact he is already at large and believed to be living in China," the statement read.

The Tribune report also claims that the newspaper has intercepted communications in Bangladesh 'in Arabic, Urdu and Bengali'.

This story is pure fiction and will remain 'exclusive' to the Tribune because it exists only in the imaginations of its staff, according to the statement.​

 

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Step up efforts to curb misinformation

February saw at least 268 instances of fake news circulation online

www.thedailystar.net

Step up efforts to curb misinformation
February saw at least 268 instances of fake news circulation online

VISUAL: STAR

We're concerned about the continued prevalence of misinformation in post-uprising Bangladesh, with Rumor Scanner identifying 268 instances of fake news circulating online in February. Of them, 127—or 47 percent of the total—were political in nature, while 73 were related to national issues, 10 to international affairs, and 18 to religion. Naturally, the interim government was a frequent target, with 16 misinformation cases about it, mostly negative, along with 16 cases against the chief adviser and several others targeting other advisers. Meanwhile, BNP and its leaders, including Khaleda Zia and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, each faced six negative cases. Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir faced 13 and 16 cases respectively, mostly negative. The Student Against Discrimination platform also faced 10 cases, while its leaders were also targeted.

In contrast to these mostly negative portrayals, misinformation involving Awami League, Chhatra League, and Sheikh Hasina greatly favoured them, suggesting a campaign by the fallen regime to improve its image. Clearly, fake news is being manufactured to manipulate public opinion with often devastating consequences. Worryingly still, mainstream media outlets themselves disseminated 10 pieces of fake news, while there were 57 cases of media impersonation using doctored logos and graphics, which is quite concerning. The role of Indian mainstream and social media in propagating false narratives has been equally troubling. For example, nine instances of misinformation about Bangladesh were found in Indian media. Rumor Scanner also identified 20 instances of communal misinformation, with half of them traced back to Indian social media accounts.

These trends at a time of continued political upheavals do not augur well for Bangladesh. The sheer volume of misinformation that spread in the months after the ouster of the Awami League government has been truly alarming. In January, we expressed our concern when news emerged that fact-checking organisations had debunked 58 percent more content in 2024 compared to the previous year. According to Dismislab's annual roundup, fact-checkers identified and verified over 3,000 unique pieces of false or misleading information last year, fuelling a wave of chaos the effects of which are still being felt.

These trends at a time of continued political upheavals do not augur well for Bangladesh. The sheer volume of misinformation that spread in the months after the ouster of the Awami League government has been truly alarming. In January, we expressed our concern when news emerged that fact-checking organisations had debunked 58 percent more content in 2024 compared to the previous year. According to Dismislab's annual roundup, fact-checkers identified and verified over 3,000 unique pieces of false or misleading information last year, fuelling a wave of chaos the effects of which are still being felt. While everyone agrees that curbing misinformation has become more urgent than ever before, no one seems to know how to go about it in a manner that eliminates the threat without infringing on people's rights.

The dangers of misinformation should be clear to us by now—it is fuelling confusion, division, and instability. Therefore, we must adopt a multi-pronged approach to address it. There should be more digital literacy campaigns to help users identify fake news, while social media platforms should take stronger action against disinformation campaigns. Fact-checking organisations should also receive greater institutional support to enhance their reach and impact. Meanwhile, mainstream media platforms must step up efforts to debunk false narratives and increase access to proper information.​

 

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Guterres voiced concern over disinformation targeting Bangladesh

Says Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain at a joint media briefing with Guterres at a city hotel

www.thedailystar.net

Guterres voiced concern over disinformation targeting Bangladesh
Says Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain at a joint media briefing with Guterres at a city hotel

Photo: Courtesy/UNB

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain today said UN Secretary-General António Guterres "expressed concern" over the disinformation targeted against Bangladesh.

"His visit would more than counterweigh the misinformation and disinformation campaign and the attempts to destabilise Bangladesh," he told reporters at a joint media briefing with Guterres at a city hotel.

Hossain said Guterres' assurance of support would help Bangladesh in its successful reform process and transition to democracy in line with the common aspiration of the people of Bangladesh.

The UN chief appreciated the complexities of the reform process for a "free and fair election" and a "real transformation" of the country, said the foreign adviser.

Guterres promised the UN's total commitment to the reform process under the leadership of Chief Adviser Yunus and said he will do whatever he can do to support the endeavours of the interim government, and stand by Bangladesh and its people.

Guterres is now in Bangladesh as part of his "Ramadan Solidarity Visit" and is scheduled to leave Dhaka tomorrow morning.

The visit comes with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's membership in the United Nations.

"This marks a historical moment for both Bangladesh and the UN, as the secretary general himself is witnessing the formative stage of a new Bangladesh following the supreme sacrifices of the July-August mass uprising that aspired for a just, democratic, and inclusive society," Hossain said.

The foreign adviser said this visit is significantly meaningful for the government and for the future Bangladesh.​