Coordinated propaganda network in Bangladesh targets India through digital disinformation

A detailed examination of Bangladesh’s digital space has revealed the presence of a highly coordinated online ecosystem pushing anti-India narratives through fabricated military claims, politicized misinformation, and aggressive rhetoric. Operating across Facebook, YouTube, and X, these accounts pose as media outlets but function primarily as propaganda platforms aimed at undermining India–Bangladesh relations and fuelling distrust between the two neighbours.

In recent years, a surge of Bengali-language pages has emerged that mimic the aesthetics of legitimate news organisations using breaking-news graphics, live updates, and professional logos despite lacking institutional affiliation. Their content, however, is strategically curated to distort facts, amplify sensitive issues, and mould public opinion in Bangladesh against India. Analysts say these pages operate less like newsrooms and more like digital “war rooms,” working to normalise confrontation and weaken regional stability.

Among the most prominent names is "Bangla Vision TV", a major Bangladeshi network with millions of followers. Despite its media stature, its coverage related to India has frequently displayed bias. From alleging Indian support to separatist groups in Chittagong to circulating unverified claims about India’s losses during “Operation Sindoor,” the channel has repeatedly published sensational content without citing credible sources. The Indian government subsequently banned its YouTube channel citing national-security concerns, though its Facebook and X accounts remain active.

Another central figure in this propaganda landscape is "Mahmudur Rahman", editor of the newspaper "Amar Desh". Known for his strong political opposition to the Awami League government, Rahman has long propagated narratives accusing India of hegemony, interference, and expansionism. His speeches and articles often paint Bangladesh as an “undeclared colony of Hindu nationalist India,” yet seldom offer evidence. Over the years, multiple defamation and sedition cases have been filed against him, and his newspaper has faced repeated government action for publishing false or inflammatory reports.

Social-media pages, however, form the backbone of this digital misinformation network. The Facebook page "The Political Lens", which now has more than 660,000 followers, originally operated under Rahman’s name before rebranding in 2025. The page regularly promotes content portraying India as meddling in Bangladesh’s internal politics, while highlighting speeches and graphics that reinforce a one-sided narrative of Indian aggression.

Equally influential is the YouTube Facebook duo "BD Fire Power", which has built a following exceeding one million users. Claiming to offer military and geopolitical analysis, the platform habitually exaggerates Bangladesh’s defence capabilities while projecting India as fearful or weakened. Posts such as “Kolkata is within missile range,” “68 million soldiers ready,” and “India cannot cross the border” are presented without evidence, yet generate significant engagement. Experts note that such messaging aims to glamorise military confrontation and create a perception of imminent conflict.

Several anonymous accounts amplify the same theme. Pages named “ভারতের দালাল মুক্ত বাংলাদেশ চাই” (“Bangladesh free of India’s agents”) and “Kick India Out of Bangladesh” rely on emotional triggers, inflammatory language, and selectively edited visuals to depict India as an ever-present threat. These accounts link nearly every political dispute or social problem to Indian interference, contributing to heightened hostility among impressionable audiences.

There are also signs of "Pakistan-linked influence" in this digital space. An X account under the name “Faryal Sikder” claims to be Bangladeshi but frequently echoes Pakistani military propaganda while sharing unverifiable reports about alleged “large-scale Indian casualties” or supposed failures of Indian defence projects. Despite claiming Dhaka as its location, its behaviour pattern and network interactions suggest cross-border orchestration.

Fact-checking investigations have debunked several high-impact claims circulated by these platforms. These include fabricated reports of Indian fighter-jet losses, false announcements about diplomatic decisions by European countries, and even fake news about the death of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Each of these posts had attracted thousands of views before being disproven.

The cumulative impact of these accounts is clear: by exaggerating Bangladesh’s military power, portraying India as a hostile aggressor, and promoting fear-laden narratives, they seek to erode trust and destabilize long-standing cultural and strategic ties between the two nations. Analysts warn that such propaganda does not merely mislead the public it poses a deeper threat to regional peace, opening the door to suspicion and polarization at a time when South Asia needs cooperation more than ever.

(The Author is the Senior Fact Checker at Digital Forensics Research and Analytics Center )