Confronting Misinformation in Bangladesh

The spread of misinformation has been a major challenge to democracy and peace in contemporary times. Bangladesh has historically been subjected to widespread political and communal violence caused by rumors and disinformation during times of elections and political uncertainty, hindering the smooth functioning of democratic transitions.

The popularity of social media and their increased accessibility to the masses has further complicated the fight against misinformation. Further, it is not uncommon for disinformation to make its way into mainstream media outlets. Its reproducers are typically victims of the 'emotional appeal' of rumors and lack the training to discern fact from rumor.

In Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million and thousands of media outlets both electronic and print, misinformation poses an enormous challenge. Actors who reproduce and recirculate misinformation quite often do so out of ignorance and poor judgment.