Faisal Akber :
Rumor Scanner, a fact-checking media institution, reported that at least 148 instances of misinformation regarding Bangladesh were disseminated by Indian media outlets over the past year, particularly following the 5 August Mass Uprising. This investigative report was published on 18 January 2025. Of these 148 fake news stories, 12 were published before the July Revolution, while 136 emerged after the fall of the Hasina regime. Rumor Scanner further stated, “During the political transition in August [last year], the rate of misinformation from Indian sources about Bangladesh saw a worrying increase. Outlets such as Asian News International, NDTV, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, Zee News, and Republic Bangla were among the mainstream media spreading fake news, with Republic Bangla ranking highest in this regard.”
Another analytical report, published by Rumor Scanner on 7 December 2024, identified at least 13 cases of misinformation spread by Indian media about Bangladesh between 12 August and 5 December, following the shift in state power. The report also noted that at least 49 Indian media outlets are involved in disseminating misinformation. However, Rumor Scanner acknowledged that this is only a partial assessment, as their inquiry was limited to specific media sources.
The majority of this misinformation appears to have been politically motivated, aiming to distort the image of the new Bangladesh, misrepresent Muhammad Yunus, and incite security concerns. Recently, Ananda Bazar Online published a false report titled “Army Coup in Dhaka,” which was promptly removed. Such misinformation campaigns can be seen as a form of hybrid warfare, seemingly designed to bolster Sheikh Hasina’s previous regime. The misinformation propagated by Indian media following the July mass uprising is a clear example of propaganda.
On 4 February 2025, an article was published on India.com titled “Bangladesh Takes SHOCKING Decision, Yunus Bans All Radio and TV Content…”, which was entirely fabricated, as Bangladesh has not taken any measures to regulate the media. Even mainstream media outlets have been implicated in disseminating misleading information. For instance, on 26 January 2025, Ananda Bazar Online and Hindustan Times published a report titled “US Aid to Bangladesh Stopped,” despite international reports confirming that the Trump administration had terminated all humanitarian and development aid globally, including in India. Yet, these media outlets disproportionately focused on Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh remains in a relatively secure position, as the United States is unlikely to halt its assistance to the Rohingya population residing in the country.
The Indian Express has also published several articles based on narratives from fugitive Awami League leaders accused of serious crimes, including murder and mass killings. One such article, titled “In Hiding, Bangla Awami Top Brass Connect with Hasina, Wait for ‘Rule of Law’ to Return,” was found to contain misinformation and failed to uphold basic journalistic ethics. On 23 January, the same outlet published an article featuring an interview with Asaduzzaman Kamal, an individual accused of coordinating mass killings in July and August 2024, without adequately verifying the information. On the same day, India.com released another misleading report titled “Unfortunate Developments for Bangladesh’s Interim Prime Minister: Yunus and His Daughter Encounter Significant Challenges in the United States,” which appeared to be part of an orchestrated misinformation campaign. Additionally, on 10 January 2025, India Today published a misleading report titled “After Drones at Indian Border, Why Bangladesh Wants to Acquire Turkish Tanks?” Similarly, Zee News published a fabricated report titled “DNA Exclusive: Analysing Muhammad Yunus’s Alleged Operation Octopus in Bangladesh.” Fact-checking agencies have also documented thousands of India-based social media accounts spreading fake videos and images of attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus.
Beyond misinformation about Bangladesh, India has been identified as a leading global source of disinformation. According to the Global Risks Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, India ranks highest among countries in terms of misinformation and disinformation frequency. Even Indian media themselves have acknowledged this issue. In 2019, The Hindu published an article titled “Disinformation is Everywhere in India,” which highlighted the role of traditional and digital media in spreading fake news. Additionally, an Al Jazeera report from 16 October 2023, titled “Why is so much Anti-Palestinian Disinformation Coming from India?” featured analysis by Marc Owen Jones, who noted that such misinformation is often linked to the BJP IT Cell. Niranjan Sahoo, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, also raised concerns in his article “How Disinformation Erodes the World’s Largest Democracy,” describing India as the “disinformation capital of the world.”
Given these concerns, how should Indian media outlets be assessed? This situation presents a clear example of propaganda that will likely be cited as a textbook case. If such misinformation persists, India’s diplomatic relations with its neighbours may deteriorate, leading to broader regional instability. The Indian government should critically evaluate its role in such campaigns before engaging in continuous propaganda efforts.
In this context, the West Bengal-based human rights organisation, The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), released a statement on 1 December 2024, asserting, “The Indian government or the BJP has no moral right to criticise the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Minority Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists continue to face persecution in India.” Considering the geopolitical realities of the Indo-Pacific region, India must reconsider its longstanding policy of interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries. An unwavering allegiance to a particular political faction has created tensions with neighbouring populations. As a result, India has faced strategic setbacks across the region, including in the Maldives. Under these circumstances, India’s South Block must reassess its regional engagement strategies, fostering equitable and respectful diplomatic relations with its neighbours.
(The writer is a teacher
and researcher).
