Dhaka: Bangladesh’s fact-checking body, Rumor Scanner, has identified 268 instances of misinformation spread across the internet in February.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the organization reported that political issues accounted for the highest number of misinformation incidents, with 127 cases, representing 47 percent of the total. National issues followed with 73 cases, while international issues had 10. Additionally, misinformation was found in areas such as religion (18), entertainment and literature (8), education (5), fraud (16), and sports (7).
The types of misinformation varied, with the most common being information-based errors totaling 108, followed by 64 image-based errors and 96 video-based errors. Of these, 164 were classified as false, 64 as misleading, and 40 as distorted.
Social media platforms were significant contributors to the spread of misinformation, with Facebook leading at 250 cases. Other platforms included X with 44 cases, TikTok with 16, YouTube with 38, Instagram with 21, and Threads with at least three cases. Furthermore, misinformation was detected in the country’s media in 10 incidents.
A concerning trend identified by Rumor Scanner is the increasing rate of false information about Bangladesh originating from Indian media and social media accounts. February saw nine incidents involving Bangladesh in Indian media and three more from Indian social media accounts.
Communal misinformation has been a topic of concern, with Rumor Scanner identifying 20 cases in February. Half of these originated from Indian social media accounts.
The interim government was a frequent target, with 16 misinformation pieces involving the government and another 16 about Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor. Several government advisors, including Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Nahid Islam, were also targeted.
Political parties were not immune, with the Bangladesh Awami League facing 16 misinformation pieces, all creating a positive impression. The Bangladesh Chhatra League and its president, Sheikh Hasina, also faced misinformation. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leaders, as well as Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organization, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, were targeted with negative misinformation campaigns.
New political movements were also affected. Nahid Islam, a former advisor, faced fake news after forming the Jatiya Nagorik Party. The Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union, a new student organization, was similarly targeted.
State forces faced seven fake news stories about the army, five about the police, and two about the air force. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and its leaders were also victims of false information in February.
Rumor Scanner highlighted 14 death rumors concerning well-known figures and various incidents. The protest at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on February 5 led to 11 misinformation cases, the highest in a single event for the month.
The organization noted a rise in robberies and snatchings, with misinformation using unrelated videos and footage from different countries. Misinformation involving 32 local and foreign media outlets spread in 47 incidents, with Daily Prothom Alo being the most frequently misused name.