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More than 74% of politically affiliated misinformation spread online ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 national election reinforced gender-based bias, according to a senior United Nations Development Programme official.
Andres del Castillo Sanchez, chief technical adviser at UNDP, presented these findings at the Bangladesh Journalism Conference held at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden on Wednesday.
“The spread of misinformation and hate speech intensified in the months leading up to elections, raising concerns about the impact of digital manipulation on democratic processes,” Sanchez told conference attendees.
His research revealed that approximately 16% of analyzed online content contained hate speech, while a concerning 49% featured misinformation. The overwhelming majority of this problematic content—more than 74%—was politically affiliated and contributed to gender-based biases.
Researchers documented significant fluctuations in online hate speech and misinformation between December and February, which Sanchez noted correlated closely with Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape.
“We are currently preparing an analysis because this needs to be understood alongside the political movements and situations the country is facing,” he explained, highlighting the complex interplay between offline political developments and online information manipulation.
An interesting pattern emerged in the data, showing that while misinformation and hate speech surged during politically tense periods, there was a noticeable decline in such content in the days immediately preceding the election—suggesting potential strategic timing in the deployment of misinformation campaigns.
Sanchez expressed particular concern about the growing sophistication of disinformation tactics, pointing to artificial intelligence as an emerging threat to electoral integrity.
“These AI-generated posts were undermining information reliability and the voters’ ability to make informed choices,” he warned, indicating a technological escalation in the battle for public opinion.
The findings come at a critical time for Bangladesh’s digital information ecosystem, as social media platforms continue to gain influence in shaping public discourse and political participation across South Asia.
Joan Barata, an international freedom of expression expert also speaking at the conference, offered a complementary perspective on the information landscape, emphasizing that freedom of expression must be balanced with responsibility.
“Freedom of expression is great, but it comes with responsibility,” Barata said, directing his message to both media practitioners and political authorities.
Barata cautioned against governmental overreach in media regulation, warning that undue pressure on journalists through legal, institutional, or law enforcement mechanisms undermines democratic principles. He emphasized there are “certain limits” to how states should engage with and influence media operations.
The UNDP’s analysis contributes to a growing body of evidence documenting how digital disinformation campaigns increasingly target democratic processes worldwide. Similar patterns have been observed in recent elections across South Asia and beyond, reflecting a global challenge to information integrity during electoral periods.
For Bangladesh, these findings raise important questions about digital literacy, platform accountability, and the need for potential regulatory frameworks that can address politically motivated misinformation without compromising press freedom or free expression.
Media experts note that the prevalence of gender-biased misinformation is particularly troubling, as it may contribute to the underrepresentation of women in political leadership roles and reinforce existing societal inequalities.
The research underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between government institutions, civil society organizations, and technology platforms to build resilience against digital manipulation as Bangladesh works to strengthen its democratic foundations ahead of future electoral cycles.
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10 Comments
The link between political groups and the spread of misinformation is worrying. Transparent, fact-based political discourse is essential for healthy democracies. I hope the UNDP’s analysis leads to constructive solutions to safeguard the integrity of Bangladesh’s elections.
This research sheds light on a serious challenge facing Bangladesh’s democracy. Addressing the spread of misinformation and hate speech through multi-stakeholder collaboration will be crucial to ensuring free and fair elections.
The UNDP’s findings highlight the urgent need to combat the weaponization of misinformation in Bangladesh’s politics. Promoting transparency, accountability, and digital literacy will be essential to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Interesting findings on the spread of misinformation and hate speech ahead of Bangladesh’s elections. It’s concerning that the majority of it was politically affiliated. Fact-checking and media literacy will be crucial to combat digital manipulation in the future.
The high percentage of politically affiliated misinformation is concerning, as it threatens to undermine the democratic process. I hope the UNDP’s analysis leads to meaningful reforms to protect the integrity of Bangladesh’s elections.
This is a concerning trend – the use of misinformation and hate speech to sway political outcomes is troubling for democracy. I hope the government and civil society can work together to address the root causes and ensure free and fair elections.
Agreed. Strengthening media literacy and promoting responsible social media use will be key to mitigating the impact of misinformation campaigns.
While it’s disturbing to see political actors exploiting misinformation, I’m hopeful that increased awareness and concerted efforts to promote digital literacy can empower voters to make informed decisions. Transparency and accountability will be key.
This highlights the need for robust media regulations and fact-checking efforts to counter the proliferation of online misinformation, especially around critical political events. Building public trust in credible information sources should be a priority.
It’s alarming to see the extent to which political groups are exploiting misinformation and digital manipulation. Strengthening media literacy and fact-checking efforts should be a priority to safeguard the democratic process.