[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

Deepfake and cheapfake fears in elections, 10 tactics used more

Digital literacy in Bangladesh is in a dire state. If AI-generated videos calling for election boycotts or damaging a candidate’s image are spread here, the impact could be devastating.

en.prothomalo.com

Deepfake and cheapfake fears in elections, 10 tactics used more

Mahmudul HasanDhaka
Updated: 11 Jan 2026, 12: 20

It was certain which party would win the most seats in Bangladesh’s 12th Jatiya Sangsad election held on 7 January 2024. The election became known as a ‘dummy vote’.

On the morning of the polling day, however, a fake or ‘deepfake’ video of Abdullah Nahid Nigar, an independent candidate in the Gaibandha-1 constituency, went viral. In the video, he was seen saying that he has withdrawn from the election, which confused many voters.

This is one Bangladeshi example of the use of deepfake videos in elections. A 2024 report titled The Influence of Deepfakes on Elections by the German organisation Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) says such incidents have occurred frequently in recent elections around the world.

The United States, Turkey, Slovakia, Argentina, Indonesia, India, Poland, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Zambia and France the list of such examples goes on.

The KAS report mentions the Bangladeshi case. Another example comes from the United States. In January last year, ahead of the Democratic Party primaries in the state of New Hampshire, a video of then president Joe Biden circulated in which he appeared to discourage voters from voting. The video was a deepfake.


The January 2024 incident in Bangladesh was fact-checked by Minhaz Aman, a fact-checker who is now head of research at the organisation Activate Rights.

He told Prothom Alo Saturday, that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections has been seen in various countries. Deepfakes can influence voters’ choices in elections and also harm candidates in different ways.

In January last year, ahead of the Democratic Party primaries in the state of New Hampshire, a video of then president Joe Biden circulated in which he appeared to discourage voters from voting. The video was a deepfake.
The fact-checker said digital literacy in Bangladesh is in a dire state. If AI-generated videos calling for election boycotts or damaging a candidate’s image are spread here, the impact could be devastating.

At the start of 2024, AI was not as advanced or accessible as it is now. Today, fake videos, audio and images can be created using AI in such a realistic way that they appear completely genuine. This is known as a deepfake.

Another type is ‘cheapfake’, which is created using inexpensive software rather than AI. Cheapfakes are usually used to misrepresent events, such as spreading fake statements by copying photo cards posted on media outlets’ Facebook pages.

From what has been learned from speaking to fact-checkers, analysts and law enforcement officials, 10 tactics are most commonly used to spread disinformation in the country through deepfakes and cheapfakes.

These include attaching misleading or differently interpreted captions to genuine photos or videos, cutting parts of real statements or changing their context to create a different meaning, attributing completely fabricated statements or quotations to specific individuals, and presenting old photos, videos or news as if they were recent events.

From what has been learned from speaking to fact-checkers, analysts and law enforcement officials, 10 tactics are most commonly used to spread disinformation in the country through deepfakes and cheapfakes.
Video as the dominant medium
As the election draws closer, the scale of political disinformation is increasing. At least 13 top and high-profile leaders from several political parties have already fallen victim to such incidents.

An analysis of misinformation trends from July to September last year was published on 29 October by the fact-checking organisation Dismislab. Based on data from eight local fact-checking organisations, the report said that video was the main medium for spreading false information during that period, accounting for 66 per cent of all fact-checked content.

Compared to the previous three months (April-June 2025), the use of graphics, images and written posts declined. In other words, as the election approaches, the spread of confusion through AI-generated fake videos is increasing.

There have also been incidents of creating fake graphics modelled on media photo cards, television scrawls or news portal designs, using fabricated numbers or statistics, forging screenshots or documents, and coordinated campaigns in which the same false information is spread simultaneously from multiple pages and accounts.

The widespread circulation of various types of misinformation and video-based disinformation in the months leading up to the election has also been highlighted in an analysis by the fact-checking organisation Rumor Scanner.

Rumor Scanner says that by nature, 1,051 were outright falsehoods, 253 were distorted information, 132 were misleading, three were partially false and two were partially true. This shows that unchecked and deliberately fabricated falsehoods were the main tools for spreading disinformation.
According to the organisation, 1,441 instances of misinformation were identified between October and December last year. Of these, 956 were political disinformation. Video-based misinformation was the most prevalent, with 651 cases, followed by text-based misinformation at 550 and image-based misinformation at 245.

Rumor Scanner says that by nature, 1,051 of these were outright falsehoods, 253 were distorted information, 132 were misleading, three were partially false and two were partially true. This shows that unchecked and deliberately fabricated falsehoods were the main tools for spreading disinformation during this period.

A Dismislab report published on 6 January says that between 16 November and 15 December, nine fact-checking organisations in Bangladesh identified and debunked 63 false election-related claims. In the previous month, from 16 October to 15 November, the number was 50, meaning false claims increased by around 26 per cent. During this time, fabricated statements and quotations were used the most.​

 

[Saif]

Security concerns before election

The 13th national election is barely a month away. Now, is the atmosphere congenial to holding a general election? If maintenance of law and order is a prerequisite for holding a free, fair and peaceful poll, a unanimous verdict would be in the negative. Killings by shooting, beating, hacking and s

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Security concerns before election

Neil Ray
Published :
Jan 11, 2026 23:32
Updated :
Jan 11, 2026 23:32

The 13th national election is barely a month away. Now, is the atmosphere congenial to holding a general election? If maintenance of law and order is a prerequisite for holding a free, fair and peaceful poll, a unanimous verdict would be in the negative. Killings by shooting, beating, hacking and stabbing have almost become a daily routine. It is not just mob violence instigated with an ulterior motive to take someone's life that is of concern, there are several cases of clandestine political vendetta in recent time. In the majority of such incidents, the victims are from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the party tipped for winning the election. The latest such victim is Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Swechhasebak Dal who once held the post of general secretary of this wing in Dhaka City north.

All such murders in pre-poll violence did not receive due attention because of the widespread shock and outrage Inquilab Manch convener Sharif Osman bin Hadi's killing caused. Secretary General of the BNP, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir lamented that the government was least bothered about the killing of several leaders of his party. Again, a senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed complained that the killing of Azizur Rahman was pre-planned. The two aggrieved leaders' complaints point at something ominous. What is important is to admit that political murders are all pre-planned, rarely carried out from personal vengeance.

A lot of calculations go into taking a life of political rivals. When such murders become almost a routine, question must be asked if those are carried out under a blueprint. In this country, human life could not be cheaper. People's cruelty and barbarity have crossed all limits by this time. The way a group of people suddenly turn violent on the hearsay that someone has stolen something or was trying to steal or desecrated the holy book is shocking. Insanity knows no bound when they maltreat a human being---one of their kind. They take the law into their own hands to deliver the death penalty.

The government's laidback attitude and reaction to such deaths is in fact responsible, by default, for instigating the political elements to go for murder of the opponents. There is nothing to be surprised if a party with their similar murky past, has been the sponsor of the selective murders. The murders of local political activists including the Swechhasebak leader in Dhaka, Jashore, Shariatpur and Narasingdi point to the fact that these are committed with one common objective in mind. Although, media reports do not highlight how popular the murdered men were in their respective areas, it can be assumed that their popularity proved fatal for them. The opponents may have calculated that if alive they would prove vital for election campaign in favour of the rival parliamentary candidates in their respective constituencies.

So fragile is the law and order right at this moment, the interim government and the Election Commission (EC) will find it tough to manage the situation for the month running up to the election day. The interim government has never given a good account of bringing the lawlessness under control. Even the inspector general of the police (IG) candidly admitted that if there is political pressure, it is difficult to manage the general election. True, cooperation from the political parties is vital for holding election. But if lawlessness cannot be reined in at the grassroots level, maintaining discipline in election proves even tougher.

Both members of civil society and ordinary people are apprehensive of a peaceful election because of the pre-poll violence. The top brass of the interim government has often asserted that this election will be an exemplary one. Surely, this assertion is not in the negative sense. But if appears that the government has not done its homework to hold such an election. There is no point blaming the EC which is yet to make its presence felt. It has asked for sufficient contingents of law enforcement agencies during the election time. But such agencies are incapable of providing security beyond the poll venues.

This is exactly why there is a need for ground work well before the election day. The police are yet to command esteem from the public, least of all from the leaders of the July-August uprising. There could not be a better example of this lack of respect and decency in an incident when a leader of the student against discrimination (SAD) threatens the officer-in-charge of Shayestaganj police station under Habiganj. A section of SAD members and the police cannot see eye to eye as yet. How can the agency control, without active help from border guards of Bangladesh (BGB) and the army, the law and order during election. Intelligence services should have long been deployed with the assignment of detection of high-risk poll centres. Even if such ground works are duly done, people need to be assured of security by the actions taken during the one month left to remove threats posed to peaceful holding of the scheduled election.​

 

[Saif]

Entire nation was punished in the name of election organised with people’s money: Yunus

Commission report reveals irregularities in 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections

www.thedailystar.net

Entire nation was punished in the name of election organised with people’s money: Yunus

Commission report reveals irregularities in 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections

By Star Online Report

Photo: CA's Press Wing

A government inquiry commission has revealed that in the 2018 national election, ballots were stamped overnight in 80 percent of polling centres to secure victory for the Awami League, with voter turnout figures exceeding 100 percent in some locations.


The findings were submitted this afternoon to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus by the five-member commission led by Justice Shamim Hasnain at Jamuna.


The commission investigated electoral irregularities in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 parliamentary elections, noting that during this period, control of the electoral process shifted away from the Election Commission (EC) and into the hands of the administration.

After receiving the report, the chief adviser said, “We had heard about vote rigging, we knew some of it. But the way the entire process was shamelessly distorted, the system twisted and crushed, and a verdict written on paper as they pleased -- this must be placed before the nation. A full record must be kept.”


He added that the entire nation was punished in the name of elections organised with public money.

“The people of this country looked on helplessly. They could do nothing. To give the people some relief, the faces of all those involved must be brought to light. We must know who did it, how they did it. And we must ensure that such election theft can never happen again.”

The report detailed that in the 2014 election, 153 constituencies were uncontested, while polls in the remaining 147 were staged as “competitive” but were entirely pre-arranged to keep the Awami League in power.


Facing global criticism for the uncontested polls, the party adopted a mission to make the 2018 election appear competitive, drawing the BNP and other opposition parties into participation without realising the scale of manipulation.


In the 2024 election, when opposition parties did not participate, dummy candidates were fielded as a deceptive tactic to portray it as "competitive."

Due to limited time, it was not possible to identify individuals involved in election irregularities or determine their specific roles, said the commission.​

 

[Saif]

UN rights chief offers support to combat election misinformation

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has offered the support of his office to counter the surge of misinformation targeting the February 12 elections as Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus sought support of the organization to address the issue. “There has been a f

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

UN rights chief offers support to combat election misinformation

Published :
Jan 13, 2026 23:51
Updated :
Jan 13, 2026 23:51

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk -Collage Photo

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has offered the support of his office to counter the surge of misinformation targeting the February 12 elections as Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus sought support of the organization to address the issue.

“There has been a flood of misinformation surrounding the elections. It is coming from both foreign media and local sources,” Prof Yunus said during a phone conversation with Volker Türk today, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, BSS reports.

“They have flooded social media with fake news, rumours and speculation. We are concerned about the impact this may have on the elections,” the Chief Adviser added.

High Commissioner Türk said he was aware of the problem and offered the support of the UN human rights office to address what he described as a growing misinformation challenge.

“There is a lot of misinformation. We will do whatever is needed,” Türk said, adding that the UN rights agency would work closely with Bangladesh to tackle the issue.

During the conversation, the two leaders also discussed the upcoming referendum, the importance of institutional reforms, the work of the Enforced Disappearance Commission, the formation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the global geopolitical situation.

High Commissioner Türk stressed the importance of establishing “a truly independent” National Human Rights Commission to carry forward the work related to enforced disappearances.

In response, Professor Yunus said the NHRC ordinance has already been promulgated and that a new commission would be reconstituted ahead of the February 12 elections.

“We will do it before we leave,” he said.

The Chief Adviser said he had shared the final report of the Enforced Disappearance Commission with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, describing it as a crucial document that would go a long way toward ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of enforced disappearances during the autocratic regime from 2009 to 2024.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk praised the Chief Adviser’s efforts over the past year and a half. He said his office had supported the work of the Enforced Disappearance Commission and would continue to do so.

SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was present during the conversation.​

 

[Saif]

BNP asks EC to form 'fact-checking cell' to curb poll disinformation

The BNP has urged the Election Commission (EC) to urgently form a “fact-checking cell” to counter what it describes as rampant disinformation on social media during the election season. At a briefing at the party’s Gulshan office on Thursday evening, Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP asks EC to form 'fact-checking cell' to curb poll disinformation

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 16, 2026 00:44
Updated :
Jan 16, 2026 00:44

The BNP has urged the Election Commission (EC) to urgently form a “fact-checking cell” to counter what it describes as rampant disinformation on social media during the election season.

At a briefing at the party’s Gulshan office on Thursday evening, Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the BNP’s Election Steering Committee, said social media platforms were being used extensively to spread misinformation, disinformation and character assassination centred on the election.

He said the party wanted such a mechanism to be made operational nationwide without delay.

ZAIMA GETS ‘BLUE TICK’

Mahdi said Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP chief Tarique Rahman, has recently had her Facebook and Instagram accounts verified by Meta, the parent company of both platforms.

“Other than these two blue-tick verified handles, she has no official social media accounts,” he said.


He alleged that more than 50 fake IDs and pages using the BNP’s name had been spreading confusion through deepfake and AI-generated videos.

Many of those accounts had already been removed, he said, while communication with Meta was continuing to take down the remaining ones.

NO ACCOUNT IN ZUBAIDA’S NAME

Mahdi also said multiple fake Facebook pages had been opened in the name of Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique.

“These pages are circulating fabricated and false videos generated using AI. We want to make it clear that Dr Zubaida Rahman has no social media account or page,” he said, urging the public not to be misled.

CALL CENTRE LAUNCHED

He said the BNP has launched a call centre to engage with the public during the election period. Citizens can call 16543 to seek information, advice, lodge complaints or share opinions.

The party has also launched the “Match My Policy” initiative to build public opinion around its policies and receive constructive feedback. Through the website www.matchmypolicy.net, individuals can share views and preferences on BNP policies across different sectors.

BNP BACKS ‘YES’ IN REFERENDUM

Mahdi also said the BNP has taken a position in favour of a “Yes” vote in the referendum, citing its long-standing reform proposals outlined in Vision 2030 (2016), the 27-point agenda (2022) and the 31-point agenda (2023).

He also raised concerns over the placement of the Paddy Sheaf symbol on postal ballots, alleging it was positioned in a way that made it less visible than rival symbols, and criticised what he described as unequal enforcement of the electoral code of conduct.​

 

[Saif]

EU deploys 56 long-term observers in Bangladesh

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) today deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February.

en.prothomalo.com

EU deploys 56 long-term observers in Bangladesh

BSS Dhaka
Updated: 17 Jan 2026, 13: 01

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) today deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February.

"The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission. Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process," said the Deputy Chief Observer, Inta Lase at a brief ceremony before the deployment at a city hotel.

The EU EOM follows a robust and well-established methodology of long-term, nationwide observation to ensure a balanced and thorough assessment of the electoral process.

The long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level and support the analysis of the core expert team based in Dhaka.

"Our observers will work in teams of two and in their areas of observation they will meet voters, election officials, candidates and political parties, as well as citizen observers and youth activists not only in the cities, but also in small towns and villages," said the Deputy Chief Observer, Inta Lase.

The observers have been drawn from EU Member States, Canada, Norway and Switzerland. Before deployment, they received extensive briefings on the electoral process, the political environment, the legal framework, and the media and social landscapes in Bangladesh.

The mission was deployed following an invitation from the authorities of Bangladesh and is led by Chief Observer Mr. Ivars Ijabs, a Member of the European Parliament, who officially launched the mission at a press conference on 11 January in Dhaka.

As election day approaches, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers, along with observers from diplomatic missions of EU Member States, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, to observe voting, counting and tabulation processes.

A delegation of Members of the European Parliament will also join the mission.

At full strength, the EU EOM will comprise 200 observers from all 27 EU member states, Canada, Norway and Switzerland.

The EU EOM will present its preliminary findings at a press conference on February 14 in Dhaka.

A final report with recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process.

Both documents will be made public and published on the Mission's website.

The EU EOM operates under a strict code of conduct requiring neutrality and non-interference and conducts its activities in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005, said the EU officials.​

 

[Saif]

Prof Yunus calls for unity for successful election, country’s future

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged all concerned to unite and work for the success of the upcoming election and the country, irrespective of victory or defeat in the election, scheduled for February 12. “We must hold a fair election under any circumstances. Please inform us of

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Prof Yunus calls for unity for successful election, country’s future

UNB
Published :
Jan 19, 2026 00:14
Updated :
Jan 19, 2026 00:14

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged all concerned to unite and work for the success of the upcoming election and the country, irrespective of victory or defeat in the election, scheduled for February 12.

“We must hold a fair election under any circumstances. Please inform us of any urgent information, complaint or opinion related to the election. We will immediately bring it to the attention of the Election Commission. If the government needs to take any action, we will do so,” he said.

Prof Yunus made the remarks when a four-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami met him in the evening.

Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman led the delegation at the meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Mia Golam Parwar and Rafiqul Islam Khan were present.

Advisers Dr Wahid Uddin Mahmud, Adilur Rahman Khan and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan attended the meeting.

“This election and the referendum must be held successfully. No matter what anyone says, the election will be held on February 12. This will not be a random election. It is the collective responsibility of the government, the Election Commission and political parties to ensure a fair and festive electoral atmosphere. We seek the cooperation of all political parties in this regard,” the Chief Adviser said.

Various election-related issues were discussed during the meeting.

The Jamaat leaders said their election campaign would begin in full swing from January 22 and that the party had already started campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum.

They said two campaigns would run simultaneously from that date.

The Jamaat leaders also drew the Chief Adviser’s attention to several election-related concerns, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Regarding election security, Prof Yunus said polling centres would soon be brought under CCTV surveillance, with most centres to be covered. The installations are expected to be completed by late January.

He said officials at sensitive centres would be equipped with body cameras, and all activities would be monitored from a central control room.

The footage would be recorded to allow immediate action in case of any untoward incident.

Addressing questions about the legality of the government’s campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum, the Chief Adviser said the matter had been reviewed in consultation with all relevant authorities and that no legal obstacles were found.

He said the interim government, formed through a mass uprising, has a responsibility to support reforms.

Prof Yunus also said steps would be taken to resolve local-level disputes during the election through consultations involving representatives of all political parties and relevant stakeholders.

A dedicated hotline will remain operational during the election period to receive all types of complaints.​

 

[Saif]

Feb-12 polls must be fair, with no room for bias: Prof Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said it is the responsibility of all stakeholders - the government, the Election Commission, and political parties - to ensure that the election scheduled for February 12 is held in a ‘fair and festive’ atmosphere. “I seek the cooperati

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Feb-12 polls must be fair, with no room for bias: Prof Yunus

UNB
Published :
Jan 19, 2026 20:27
Updated :
Jan 19, 2026 20:27

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said it is the responsibility of all stakeholders - the government, the Election Commission, and political parties - to ensure that the election scheduled for February 12 is held in a ‘fair and festive’ atmosphere.

“I seek the cooperation of all political parties in this regard,” he said when a delegation of National Citizen Party (NCP) met him at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the evening.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Central Election Steering Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Secretary Monira Sharmin, and Head of the Legal Assistance Subcommittee Zahirul Islam Musa.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for ICT Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb were present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the NCP leaders shared their observations and raised various concerns regarding the election.

They said NCP leaders and activists from all walks of life are campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

They also drew the Chief Adviser’s attention to several election-related issues and urged the government to be vocal in ensuring a level playing field in the polls.

The Chief Adviser urged the NCP leaders to immediately inform the government of any complaints or suggestions related to the election.

He said the government would take all necessary measures to ensure that no one violates the law.

Prof Yunus also said the field-level administration has been reshuffled through a lottery system to ensure impartiality.

“There is no scope for bias in this election. This election will decide the fate of the country. This election is meant to change the country. Therefore, it must be fair,” he said.

The Chief Adviser said most polling centres would be brought under CCTV coverage by January.

In addition, he said, officers will wear body cameras at centres deemed vulnerable, and all activities will be monitored from a central control room.

Mentioning that the government is legally campaigning in favour of a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, Prof Yunus said the government is trying to explain to people why voting ‘Yes’ is necessary and what the outcomes would be if they vote for ‘Yes’.​