An investigation by Rumor Scanner, a fact-checking organization, has revealed that 49 Indian media outlets have circulated 13 false reports about Bangladesh between August 12 and December 5. The reports, which began circulating after the fall of the Awami League government, have caused misinformation regarding the political and social situation in Bangladesh.
The Rumor Scanner team’s report, titled "Spread of Fake News About Bangladesh in Indian Media Outlets," highlights several key fabricated stories. Among the leading offenders, Republic Bangla was found to be the most prolific, airing five false reports, followed by Hindustan Times, Zee News, and Live Mint, which each broadcast three rumors. Other outlets like Republic, India Today, ABP Anand, and Aaj Tak each contributed two.
Among the numerous false claims, some notable examples include:
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A fabricated open letter purportedly written by Sheikh Hasina after her resignation, falsely blaming the United States for her removal from power.
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A misleading video showing a man holding a human chain to search for his missing son, which Indian media wrongly claimed involved a Hindu man when, in fact, the man was Muslim and his name was Babul Howlader.
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False reports of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, appointed as the chief adviser of the interim government, being admitted to the ICU. The photo circulating alongside this claim was not of Yunus, nor was it recent.
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Claims that banned militant organizations had been reinstated in Bangladesh, which were disproven by Rumor Scanner’s investigation, revealing no truth to the allegations.
Additionally, Indian media outlets misrepresented several events. One such instance involved a container-carrying ship arriving at Chattogram Port from Karachi, which some outlets wrongly linked to the Pakistani military vessel "Swat" and alleged it was carrying arms. The truth was that the ship, MV Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan, was a commercial vessel bringing industrial raw materials.
Other false reports included fabricated stories about the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam, which was falsely linked to Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari’s case, as well as claims about a ban on Indian satellite channels in Bangladesh and the building of a new airbase in Lalmonirhat with Chinese technical assistance—both of which were debunked.
In November, a video of an idol immersion in India was falsely claimed to be related to attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh. Indian outlets also reported that a Shyamoli Paribahan bus accident in Bangladesh had involved anti-India slogans and threats to Indian passengers, which was found to be a misrepresentation of the incident.
Further, misleading reports about the UK issuing a travel advisory specific to Bangladesh were also found to be inaccurate. The advisory was part of a broader alert for several countries, including India, Indonesia, Germany, and others, not just Bangladesh.
Rumor Scanner emphasized the far-reaching impact of these false reports, especially considering the widespread circulation on social media, with some reports being cited over 11 million times. According to the investigation, influential Hindu-American groups, Indian national and regional newspapers, and prominent commentators have used these false claims to portray an exaggerated view of the situation in Bangladesh.
The organization urges independent media outlets and international rights groups to conduct their own investigations into these rumors to ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting on Bangladesh.
(Source: BSS)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
