The great Bangladeshi disinformation Olympics
The great Bangladeshi disinformation Olympics
Published : Friday, 30 May, 2025 at 12:00 AM Count : 438
Published : Friday, 30 May, 2025 at 12:00 AM Count : 438
In a land where rickshaws battle Hondas and Tonger Dokan (tea stalls) offer better political discussion than talk shows, Bangladesh has found its true global competitive edge: disinformation. Yes, while other countries struggle with AI regulation, climate change, and de/in-flation, Bangladesh has perfected the ancient art of "Facebook First, Facts Later" as a national hobby.
Forget the Olympics, the World Cup, or even the Black Pinks at the Met Gala. The real contest in Bangladesh is the daily Disinformation Olympics-held not in stadiums or on red carpets,but in comment sections, YouTube thumbnails, and dramatic voice-overs that begin with, "Breaking News!"
According to our favorite scorekeeper Rumor Scanner, April 2025 alone saw 295 cases of misinformation, almost a triple century, with only a 3-point drop from March.Better luck in May! National issues, as always, stole the limelight with 121 cases, closely followed by politics with 95 contenders. Not to be outdone, international drama, religious rhetoric, and fraudulent tales made their appearances, while sports, education, and even entertainment threw in a few plot twists of their own.
According to our favorite scorekeeper Rumor Scanner, April 2025 alone saw 295 cases of misinformation, almost a triple century, with only a 3-point drop from March.Better luck in May! National issues, as always, stole the limelight with 121 cases, closely followed by politics with 95 contenders.
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Regarding the mediums: Text-based lies led the parade with 138 cases. A country that barely reads, this is certainly a move in the right direction. Next in line are fake videos (105) and doctored images (53). Because why stop at fake texts when you can fake everything?
Facebook, of course, remains our preferred platform for hosting misinformation, with only 276 cases. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Elon's X made honorable mentions. Even Threads, which most people forgot existed, coughed up 13 cases. Not to be left out, 15 instances came straight from mainstream media: because why should social media have all the fun?
And for those wondering, yes, India joined the party too. Indian media outlets and social media pages added fuel to the fire with misinformation targeting Bangladesh as neighborly relations are incomplete without a few cross-border conspiracy theories.
But it is not just about who is spreading what-it is about why we are so ready to consume it. Perhapswe are the perfect mix of political polarization, low media literacy, high-speed internet and unemployment! Maybe it isjust the lack of regulation, the appeal of viral drama, or the simple truth that fiction is just more fun.
Since we have embraced it so creatively, why not lean into it fully? After all, these aren't just games. Sometimes the scoreboard is written in public fear, electoral chaos, or misdiagnosed pandemics.It is high time UNESCO recognized this and offered an international award for "Most Creative Misleading Headline." Spoiler alert: we would win it without even submitting an entry. A troll farm in Mirpur would just leak our victory early on Facebook.
So, here is to the nation that turns rumors into revolutions, edits into evidence, and speculation into scripture. Bangladesh may not always agree on facts but we sure as hell share them. And that, my friends, is what makes us gold medalists in the great game of disinformation.
The writer is a master's student in Journalism and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China