Political misinformation peaks as false claims of rallies, clashes, and quotes spread online

Politics has long dominated Bangladesh’s misinformation landscape. In the first six months of the year, less than half of all false claims verified by eight local fact-checking groups were political. As the February election approaches, this share has risen sharply, with about two-thirds (63%) of all fact-checks between July and September linked to politics.

More than half (52%) of debunked political claims centered on fabricated reports about rallies, clashes, or fake statements by political figures. Another 18% involved claims of persecution, murder, or corruption by politicians or parties.

High-profile events that drew political misinformation included the National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj, the death anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

Beyond politics, two major incidents triggered false claims — the Milestone School plane crash in July and the Khagrachhari violence in September, over allegations of the gang rape of an indigenous schoolgirl.

In this quarter, videos became the main vehicle for spreading false information, making up 66% of all factchecks. The use of graphics, images, and written posts fell compared with the previous quarter (April-June 2025).

These findings are based on reports published by eight Bangladesh-based fact-checking organizations, including Dismislab. Together, they released 1,345 fact-checks in the third quarter. When duplicate reports on the same claims were removed, 960 unique cases were analyzed for this report. In the previous quarter, there were 1,011 unique fact-checks, showing a 5% drop in overall misinformation content this quarter.

Narratives of Political Misinformation

Dismislab analyzed the narratives of political misinformation classifying the political fact-check reports into twelve sub-categories: false statements/remarks, character assassination, rallies/assemblies, allegations of persecution or death, allegations of corruption or crime, court/prison/arrest-related, clash/violence, conspiracies involving foreign influence, government activities, foreign activities of the Awami League, election, and others.

False claims related to rallies: One of the most common types of political misinformation this quarter involved old photos and videos of rallies shared with misleading claims, or attempts to portray one party’s rally as that of another. Of the 608 cases of political misinformation recorded this quarter, 19% were related to rallies. Nearly nine in ten of these posts claimed the rallies were organized by the Awami League (AL) — the party ousted from power in a mass uprising last year and whose political activities have since been banned. Many of these false claims appeared intended to glorify the persistence of AL activists, suggesting they continued to hold street demonstrations despite the ban.

Various social media posts (1, 2, 3, 4) misrepresented old videos of AL rallies and those of its affiliated groups as recent events. Others used images and footage from unrelated organizations and claimed (1, 2, 3, 4) they showed the gatherings of AL.

After violence broke out in Gopalganj in July during a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally, the Awami League announced a nationwide hartal (strike). False claims (1, 2) about rallies spread quickly after that, mainly around the hartal and the August 15 commemoration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1, 2), who was assassinated in 1975.

AI-generated videos also appeared online (1, 2, 3, 4), falsely claiming to show AL rallies in Dhaka and Chattogram. In one case, AI was used to exaggerate the size of a real rally, making it appear larger than it was.

The trend extended to rallies of other political groups. Several manipulated videos falsely claimed that leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) had chanted slogans about BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Some of these manipulated videos claimed that NCP leaders shouted slogans in support of Tarique Rahman, welcoming him to Bangladesh, who has been in exile in London since 2008. While others claimed they chanted derogatory slogans against him. All appeared aimed at creating confusion about the NCP’s political stance and its relationship with the BNP.

Clash and violence: Another major theme was false claims about clashes and violence, making up 18% of all political misinformation. Old or unrelated footage of violent incidents was circulated with misleading captions or described as recent. In some cases, photos and videos from other countries were falsely presented as scenes from Bangladesh.

For instance, in July, a Facebook video claimed to show a clash between Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, over a dormitory at Dhaka University. In reality, the video was from 2018 and showed an attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the Awami League, on students during a campus protest. Similarly, a video from a protest in Kenya was falsely shared as footage of people attacking NCP leaders and activists in Faridpur. Another video of a clash during a village council meeting in India was circulated with the false claim that it showed a confrontation between BNP and JI activists.

Also in July, clashes broke out between law enforcement agencies and Awami League leaders and activists during an NCP rally in Gopalganj. The Awami League announced a nationwide hartal (strike) in response, and a series of misinformation (1, 2, 3, 4) related to clashes and violence flooded social media. For example, a video from Taiwan was circulated with the claim that the army in Gopalganj was firing from tanks. Other pieces of misinformation alleged that more than fifty people had been killed by gunfire from the army and law enforcement agencies, or that a massacre was taking place there. However, reports from multiple media outlets (1, 2) stated that five people had died in the violence. 

Two months later, in September, multiple false claims (1, 2, 3, 4) circulated alleging clashes at Dhaka University following the DUCSU election. After Chhatrashibir won the DUCSU election, claims circulated that the Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal boycotted the vote, engaged in vandalism and arson, and clashed with police or Chhatrashibir activists.

Statements and remarks: Fabricated statements made up 16% of all political misinformation. These were false comments or remarks attributed to advisers to the interim government, political party leaders, activists, or ordinary citizens discussing politics. Many of these misinformation campaigns also used AI-generated videos.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been a top target of misinformation. Examples of false statements attributed to him include: upcoming national election would be held under a system of proportional representation (PR), or that the interest-based economy could change the world. Notably, Jamaat-e-Islami and seven like-minded parties have carried out programs demanding that the upcoming national election be held under the proportional representation (PR) system. However, the BNP and several other parties have taken a stance against it. Meanwhile, the newly formed party NCP, which emerged from the student movement in July last year, has expressed partial support for the PR system.

Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was another target. One false claim alleged that he had said Durga Puja was a festival of alcohol and cannabis, but verification showed he made no such remark. At least ten AI-generated videos circulated online, falsely presenting ordinary citizens (1, 2, 3, 4) as making political comments. Some claimed that people wanted the Awami League restored to power, saying the country had developed under its rule. Two others appeared to show public rallies where speakers criticized the BNP and Jamaat and urged voters not to support them.

Similar fake AI-generated quoted were attributed to police and military officials. In the videos, the two sides are heard trading criticism: Following clashes between Awami League activists and members of the army and law enforcement agencies in Gopalganj, an AI-generated clip appeared to show a police officer at a news conference blaming the army for the violence. Another fabricated video, designed to look like a statement from an army member, claimed that controlling extortion in the country was the police’s responsibility, not the army’s.

Government activities: Misinformation around various activities of the interim government or its advisers was also observed in this quarter. For example, some claims alleged that the government had suspended six months of rations for the armed forces, or that certain advisers had resigned (1, 2).

Allegations of persecution, death: About one in ten political falsehoods focused on claims of deaths or persecution of political figures. Some posts falsely said a former Member of Parliament had died in prison, while others alleged that people were tortured for supporting the Awami League or its affiliated groups.

In one instance of false death, a photo of a man sitting in a bloodied state was shared on Facebook to claim that he had been beaten because of his involvement with the Awami League politics. However, fact-check reports found that the man had actually been injured in a road accident. 

Similar posts claimed that 23 members of the NCP had been killed in an attack by residents of Gopalganj. Fact-check reports debunked this claim as well. 

Allegations of corruption, crime: Around 8% of factchecked political misinformation related to corruption or criminal activities. At least four claimed money recovery from the homes of four politicians, and debunked. Targets of such fake news include BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and NCP leaders Samantha Sharmin, Tasnim Jara, and Nasiruddin Patwary.

Misinformation also portrayed BNP and JI leaders and activists as involved in rape and extortion in different parts of the country. For instance, some posts alleged that members of Jamaat–Shibir had committed rape or were arrested on rape charges. A video from India falsely claimed that BNP activists had committed a double murder in a hospital for refusing to pay extortion money.

Character assassination: Beyond allegations of corruption or crime, false and altered content also targeted politicians’ reputations. Intimate photos of unrelated couples were circulated with claims that they showed specific politicians. Some posts alleged that a politician had been caught in an extramarital affair. Altered images of NCP leader Dr. Tasnim Zara, showing her in shorts or partially nude, were also shared.

In one case, altered photos and videos were circulated claiming to show NCP leaders Hasnat Abdullah and Tasnim Zara kissing. Verification found that the video was originally from India and showed an Indian couple, not the two politicians.

Court, prison, arrest: Such misinformation involved claims that certain Awami League leaders were released from jail or arrested on false allegations. For instance, some social media posts claimed that former AL Member of Parliament and State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak had been released, while others alleged that former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, had been freed on bail. None of the claims was true. 

Conspiracies involving foreign influence: This quarter also saw several conspiracy theories falsely alleging foreign interference in Bangladesh’s domestic politics. For example, after law enforcement beat Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur in September, a photo of a man was shared online with claims that he was an agent of Indian intelligence agency, RAW, sent to assassinate Nur. Verification showed that the image was manipulated with AI.

Misinformation was spread linking Pakistan as well. After its victory in the Dhaka University Student Union election, Islami Chhatra Shibir installed sanitary napkin vending machines in five academic buildings. A number of social media posts falsely linked the initiative with a Pakistani organization. 

Various posts  claimed that the governments or ministers of countries such as India, the Philippines, the United States, Peru, Egypt, Ireland, and Argentina had either declared Sheikh Hasina the legitimate Prime Minister of Bangladesh or urged that power be handed over to her. Another AI-generated video falsely claimed that the Indian Parliament criticized Bangladesh’s interim government.

Foreign activities of the Awami League: After the ouster of the Awami League government from power in August 2024, misinformation swirled, claiming that various leaders, activists, or supporters of the party were carrying out political activities from abroad. For instance, an old video was shared with the claim that Sheikh Hasina was traveling from Delhi to London. Another old video from Pakistan was circulated, claiming that six former ministers of the ousted government had been taken to Allahabad for a meeting.

Election: Since the second quarter of this year (April–June), elections have emerged as one of the central topics of political misinformation, a trend that further spiked in the third quarter. Student union elections at Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University were at the center. Users shared old and unrelated videos with claims of vote rigging and allegations that weapons were being brought in to destabilize the elections. Before the final results were announced, numerous false claims and fabricated statistics circulated about the vote counts of various candidates. After the official results were released, false claims of clashes and violence at Dhaka University did the rounds.

Various false claims also circulated separately concerning the national election. Multiple fabricated quotes spread supporting or opposing the proposed proportional representation (PR) electoral system. For instance, in some cases it was falsely claimed that the Chief Adviser had announced the next election would be held under the PR system. In some other posts, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman was quoted as saying that “those unfit to be elected, want a PR system.” Another false quote, attributed to Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, claimed that Jamaat and Awami League might form an alliance over the PR issue.

AI-generated videos were also observed in election-related campaigns. One such video was used to promote former Awami League Member of Parliament from Dinajpur-6, Shibli Sadiq. Another AI-generated video featured a fabricated Islamic preacher urging people not to vote for Jamaat. Other fake quotes targeting political leaders, made false claims about party strengths, potential alliances, expected vote shares, and the policies different parties would adopt if they came to power.

Rise in law and order-related misinformation

Law-and-order-related misinformation rose this quarter, climbing from 7% to 11%, driven largely by false claims surrounding the September violence in Khagrachhari after the alleged gang rape of an indigenous girl. The clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the hill district left three members of the hill community dead. Soon, social media platforms were flooded with old, unrelated photos and videos, and even visuals from other countries, falsely claiming to depict the Khagrachhari conflict. 

One video, claimed to show a nighttime scene in Mahajanpara, Khagrachhari, was verified and found to be old footage from Indonesia. Another widely circulated image showed a bloodied girl named Uhhlame, falsely claimed to have been shot dead by the army. But factcheck reports later confirmed that she was alive. Additionally, a photo of a man holding a firearm was shared on Facebook with the claim that Bengalis had carried out an armed attack in broad daylight on the Jumma community in Mahajanpara, Khagrachhari. It was actually of Chattogram during the July uprising in 2024.

Fewer false claims on religion and world affairs

Misinformation about international affairs fell sharply in the third quarter, making up just 1% of all factchecks compared with 19% in the previous period. The earlier rise had been driven by online falsehoods linked to the India–Pakistan and Iran–Israel conflicts.

Religious misinformation also declined, down from 7% to 4% this quarter.

Videos emerged as the leading vehicle for misinformation this quarter, jumping from 48% in the previous period to 66%.

Meanwhile, the use of graphics, images, and text posts to spread false information declined steadily throughout the quarter, as videos became the preferred format for misinformation.

Methodology

This analysis is based on reports published between July and September 2025 on eight fact-checking websites: Rumor Scanner, BoomBD, Newschecker, Fact Crescendo, Fact Watch, AFP Bangladesh, Ajker Patrika, and Dismislab. When multiple websites published fact-check reports on the same piece of misinformation, only one report was counted as unique.

The reports were categorized into 17 topics: politics, sports, health, disaster, religion, nature and environment, entertainment, fraud, science and technology, law and order, education, economy and development, defense, public policy, international affairs, migration, and others.

The sub-categories of political misinformation were defined as follows:

Statements: This category includes false statements or comments attributed to any individual. It covers both entirely false remarks spread in someone’s name and genuine past statements that were reshared with misleading or recent claims.

Character assassination: This category includes misinformation aimed at discrediting or defaming the personal character of political leaders or activists.

Rallies/Assemblies: This includes misinformation where visuals of rallies or assemblies of one political party were used and falsely claimed as belonging to another, or old and unrelated footage of gatherings circulated with recent claims.

Allegations of persecution, death: It includes misinformation claiming that individuals were persecuted or killed for being followers of a particular political party, as well as false news of deaths of political leaders.

Allegations of corruption, crime: This category includes false claims that political parties or their leaders and activists were involved in corruption or criminal activities.

Court, prison, and arrest: Misinformation involving false claims of arrests or releases from prison, or misleading allegations of detention related to political figures were considered under this category.

Clash/Violence: This category covers misinformation involving old or unrelated footage of attacks or violence circulated as recent incidents, as well as false claims where scenes of violence involving one party were attributed to another.

Foreign influence: This includes misinformation claiming that foreign individuals or entities commented on or interfered in Bangladesh’s internal political affairs.

Government activities: This category includes misinformation about the actions of individual advisers or the interim government as a whole, such as fabricated claims of resignations or administrative decisions.

Foreign activities of Awami League: Misinformation related to various activities allegedly carried out by Awami League leaders and activists residing abroad was classified under this category.

Election: This category includes misinformation related to the university student union elections and the upcoming national election.

Others: This category includes misinformation that does not fall under any of the above classifications. Examples include an AI-generated video claiming  students were mocking the July uprising, or an AI-edited image where a student is seen holding a placard that reads “We want Sheikh Hasina.”