Dhaka: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed today stated that Indian media is spreading propaganda on various issues against Bangladesh under a well-coordinated plan. "The propaganda disseminated by Indian media on various matters related to Bangladesh is not a simple issue. India, as a state, plays a significant role behind this. It is part of India's coordinated plan," he expressed at a roundtable discussion held today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the roundtable discussion titled "July Uprising and Rumour in Politics" was organized by the Bangladesh Centre for Strategic Analysis (BCSA), a research and consulting firm focused on evidence-based policy formulation, strategic innovation, and sustainable development. The event took place at the Omni Residence Hotel in Banani.
Morshed described the rumors as an unequal war, stating, "Our fight against disinformation and misinformation is entirely unequal. This is because those who spread or produce fake news require no qualifications. However, when we try to fact-check, we need to be experts on the subject." He emphasized that India is waging a propaganda war against Bangladesh with all its might, urging for a collective response rather than individual resistance.
Highlighting India's attempt to establish narratives abroad by spreading rumors in English, Morshed said, "You will see that India is only spreading rumors in English. They have a significant number of English-speaking audience with whom they try to establish rumors as truth." He urged all political parties to take concerted action against this Indian propaganda war, saying, "For this, the political parties in our country must take strong steps based on consensus."
The discussion began with a welcome speech by Dr. Zia Haider, former Senior Health and Nutrition Specialist of the World Bank. He expressed concerns over the current political culture where rumors and misinformation have become serious issues. Since July 2024, fake audio-visual content and intentionally produced false information have distorted the political environment and have sometimes been weaponized to defame protestors or incite violence.
Dr. Haider called for critical self-criticism among all stakeholders regarding their roles in this issue. He stressed the importance of accountability for those who spread rumors and protection for those who fall victim to them.
Noted lawyer Barrister Rashna Imam emphasized the need for a coherent and effective legal framework to combat rumors. She highlighted the necessity for continuous engagement with digital platforms like Facebook, which operate without a regulatory framework in the country and lack public accountability. Imam advocated for bringing these platforms under national laws and policies to ensure their cooperation in combating disinformation.
Shamim Ara Shiuly, Bangladesh representative of Internews, pointed out that in the past two years, nearly two-thirds of the rumors circulated on social media targeted political figures, with female politicians facing the most vicious attacks. "Unfortunately, very few of those rumors have been debunked," she remarked. Shiuly stressed the need for every media outlet in Bangladesh to have a robust fact-checking team and for political parties to establish dedicated units to actively combat false information and rumors.
The event was moderated by Asif Bin Ali, a doctoral fellow at Georgia State University, and Shahadat Swadhin, Deputy Director of BCSA. Various political figures and academics, including BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, politician Dr. Faizul Hakim Lala, and Associate Professor Dr. Salim Hossain of Dhaka University, among others, participated in the discussion.