The spread of disinformation, rumour and misleading content on social media has become a critical challenge thes days, particularly ahead of the national election. The government has taken a tough stance to curb the insidious circulation of fake and misleading information. A new section 73(A) has been added to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance (RPO), which says any deliberate act of creating and disseminating misleading information, images, videos, audio or any other content with the intent of influence or malign the electoral process would be treated as a corrupt practice and be punishable. The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has formed a special cell to monitor online and social media to prevent fake information, misleading content and rumours ahead of the election.
However, concerns have been raised regarding overreliance on legal measures without ensuring due transparency and impartiality, which could be detrimental, and that a multi-pronged approach is needed to gain public trust and combat fake news and misinformation effectively. While legal measures, regulatory mechanisms and technologically well-equipped fact-checking cells are important, the rooted causes of spreading rumours and fake news should also be addressed.
Proliferation of fake news in political campaigns, particularly during elections, has become a global phenomenon. Social media and biased reporting on a number of news portals can drive political polarisation and social fragmentation by creating the echo chamber effect. People in echo chambers hold similar views and ideas and are drawn to information that supports their existing beliefs, creating a biased sense of identity.
Social media algorithms designed to keep users engaged determine which content is displayed to whom based on previous browsing activity and demographic information. The selective display of content aligned with a user’s preference further entrenches fragmentation and polarisation. While users view, share and interact more and more with the content of their preference, every click is monetised by some relevant party.
Heightened fragmentation and polarisation during the political transition are creating critical challenges for social cohesion in Bangladesh. Social cohesion is the bond between societal actors and institutions. Policymakers recognise the importance of social bonds in driving economic growth and sustainable development. The UN SDG pledges to build an equitable society based on inclusive growth, equality, and peace, where no one is left behind.
The heads of states and governments and high representatives at the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), held in Qatar on November 4-6, 2025, acknowledged the urgent need to address profound social challenges, especially poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, and address their underlying and structural causes and their distressing consequences. The Doha Political Declaration of the WSSD2 recognises that poverty eradication, promotion of productive employment and decent work for all, and social integration are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, and therefore, all three objectives need to be pursued simultaneously.
Bangladesh has achieved rapid improvements in several of the social development indicators. Several NGO programmes and projects have facilitated income-generating activities among poor and marginalised women, fostering broad-based social development. Mobile telecommunication services have driven rapid digital and financial inclusion in Bangladesh. However, the pace of employment generation has remained very low. Data from the Labour Force Survey 2024 shows that unemployment is particularly high among educated youth. Lack of employment opportunity and rising inequality in wealth distribution are among the key causes of general discontent and lowered trust in institutions.
Escalation of disinformation and misinformation on social media is more of an effect, and not the root cause of this widespread discontent, low trust in institutions or social fragmentation. Among the main causes of the proliferation of fake news, lack of knowledge and low literacy come first. Dishonesty and partisan political views deeply influence people’s sentiments, creating an echo chamber effect, driving social fragmentation.
The problem of tackling fake news and misleading content on online platforms is a complex and multifaceted crisis deeply rooted in ethical, social and cultural norms and attitudes, as well as education level, institutional capacity, transparency, and the commonly prevalent political power-seeking tactics.
To combat this challenge, policymakers, researchers and civil society need to take the initiative to identify the nature and extent of Bangladesh’s social relationships as well as people’s interactions with formal institutions. By doing so, it can be determined how the positive manifestations of trust, cooperation and institutional efficiency could be strengthened to enhance social cohesion and economic development.
T.I.M. Nurul Kabir
is a business, technology and policy analyst. He can be reached at [email protected].
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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