Dhaka: Fact-checking body "Rumor Scanner" has determined that the viral claims about the presence of US forces in Cox's Bazar are misleading propaganda. The investigation found no evidence of US forces' presence as claimed in the rumors.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the viral issue is part of a series of training programs arranged by the US Embassy in Dhaka, which have been conducted over the past few years. This indicates that such training activities are not new, and the current viral claims are being used as misleading propaganda.
Further analysis by Rumor Scanner revealed an increase in the spread of false information about Bangladesh since last year. This misinformation is reportedly emanating from Indian media sources and various social media accounts operated from India. Fact-checking efforts have uncovered evidence of a coordinated effort by groups, both domestic and international, to spread rumors, misinformation, and disinformation about issues concerning Bangladesh.
In April alone, Rumor Scanner identified 296 instances of misinformation circulating on the internet, highlighting the scale of the problem.