Disinfo campaign targeting interim govt

Syed Shemul Parvez :

A particular group has allegedly launched a coordinated campaign to spread rumors and destabilise the country’s law and order situation following the fall of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass movement

According to officials, this group is using various social media platforms to disseminate disinformation aimed at undermining the interim government and sowing chaos in society. Authorities say these rumors are not only being used to provoke unrest but also to incite mobs.
Law enforcement agencies have identified that approximately 80% of these rumors originate from abroad, particularly from neighboring countries, making it extremely difficult to track down and prosecute those responsible.

In just the first three months of 2025, over 500 rumors were recorded on social media, many of them traced to pages and accounts operated from outside Bangladesh. Recent examples include viral misinformation claiming the military was taking over power, and that there had been changes to the Chief Advisor’s Advisory Council.

Both rumors were later debunked by official sources. A particularly widespread false report in March claimed that the army chief had resigned — another fabrication. Several rumors have also targeted major political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the newly emerging National Citizen Party (NCP). Additionally, multiple fake Facebook pages and accounts have been opened using the name and image of Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who resides in London.

Speaking to The New Nation, Additional IGP Md. Sibgat Ullah, chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said, “We are working tirelessly to combat all forms of cybercrime in the capital. With public and media support, we aim to ensure a safer environment for city residents.”
Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury, Director of Legal and Media Wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said, “A vested group is deliberately attempting to destabilize the country by spreading rumors via social media, particularly following the fall of fascist Hasina’s regime after the mass uprising on August 5.”

When asked about growing international scrutiny over RAB’s operations, Chowdhury asserted, “We are not under pressure. RAB is no longer the same as before—it has undergone significant reform and is committed to upholding its duty in this new environment.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Department stated, “Many individuals are sharing false or exaggerated information to create instability. We are actively monitoring these activities and are committed to bringing those responsible under the law—even if they are currently abroad.”

Authorities emphasized that once these individuals return to Bangladesh, legal action will be taken against them. Law enforcement agencies are also working closely with fact-checkers and international cybercrime units to trace sources and reduce the spread of misinformation.