Listen to the article
Indian Media Spread 140 False Stories About Bangladesh in 2025, Report Finds
Disinformation about Bangladesh originating from Indian sources reached alarming levels in 2025, according to a new report released Saturday by Rumor Scanner, a non-governmental fact-checking organization based in Bangladesh.
The report documented 155 instances of disinformation about Bangladesh across various Indian media and social platforms last year, representing a 5% increase from 2024. Of particular concern was the prominent role played by mainstream Indian media, with 73 news outlets publishing 140 false or misleading reports across 38 separate incidents.
January 2025 saw the highest concentration of disinformation, with 34 separate instances recorded in that month alone. While the volume decreased slightly in subsequent months, Rumor Scanner found that Indian sources still disseminated an average of 13 pieces of disinformation monthly throughout the year, with May recording the lowest number at just four instances.
The microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) remained the primary vector for spreading false information, accounting for 126 of the 155 documented cases—approximately 81% of all identified disinformation. Facebook ranked second with 54 instances, while other platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok were also utilized.
“When over 80% of the identified disinformation in a single year is concentrated on one platform, it signals not just a statistic but a structural trend—an organized effort to create and disseminate a specific narrative,” the report stated.
Perhaps most troubling was the nature of the disinformation being spread. Nearly 58% of the false information—91 separate instances—was communal in nature, seemingly designed to inflame religious tensions. Indian sources circulated at least 85 communal falsehoods on X alone last year.
Major Indian news outlets including NDTV, The Times of India, Zee News, WION, India Today, Hindustan Times, News18, TV9, ABP, and Mirror Now were all implicated in spreading communal falsehoods about Bangladesh, according to the report.
Among Indian media, the satellite news channel Aajtak Bangla ranked as the worst offender, disseminating disinformation in 10 separate incidents out of 32 verified cases. This marked a concerning rise for the outlet, which ranked fourth on the same list in 2024.
The report highlighted a July 2025 incident as particularly illustrative of the problem. When Lal Chand (also known as Sohag), a scrap dealer in Dhaka’s Mitford area, was murdered, at least 27 Indian media outlets falsely reported that he was Hindu—a claim that was completely unfounded. This incident received the highest coverage among Indian media throughout the year.
Other incidents that received widespread false coverage included a concert by the musician James in Faridpur in December, which was misrepresented by 16 Indian outlets, and false claims in June regarding the revocation of recognition for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other national leaders as freedom fighters, which were propagated by 12 outlets.
The report’s methodology involved analyzing data from fact-checks published on the Rumor Scanner website from January to December 2025, systematically collecting and storing information in a dedicated database. The findings were supplemented with insights from experts from both Bangladesh and India.
Rumor Scanner emphasized that their analysis likely understates the full scale of the problem, as it only includes verifiable claims that were specifically fact-checked by their organization. Cases that escaped scrutiny could make the actual situation “far graver,” according to the report.
The findings point to a coordinated pattern of disinformation that threatens to damage bilateral relations and foment communal tensions in a region already grappling with complex religious dynamics.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
This is a concerning trend that deserves close scrutiny. The role of mainstream Indian media in perpetuating these false claims about Bangladesh is particularly worrying. Rigorous fact-checking and media reform are needed to address this issue.
It’s disappointing to see mainstream Indian media outlets contributing to this disinformation campaign against Bangladesh. This highlights the need for greater media ethics and fact-checking across the region.
Absolutely. Media outlets have a responsibility to report truthfully and avoid fueling political tensions through the spread of false claims. Accountability is key.
This is quite concerning, with over 140 false claims being spread about Bangladesh by the Indian media in 2025. It’s important that journalists and fact-checkers remain vigilant in combating disinformation, especially from influential sources.
I agree, the volume and prominence of these false stories is alarming. Rigorous fact-checking and media accountability is crucial to prevent the spread of harmful misinformation.
The high number of false claims and the role of prominent Indian media is very concerning. This kind of disinformation can have real-world consequences, so I hope the relevant authorities take strong action to address it.
Wow, 140 false claims in just one year is a staggering figure. I’m curious to know more about the specific nature of these false stories and the motivations behind their spread. Fact-checking and media literacy education will be crucial.
Agreed, understanding the underlying drivers of this disinformation campaign will be important. Transparency and accountability in the media landscape are essential to counter the spread of these false narratives.