Following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, a wave of disinformation claiming that Bangladesh’s religious minorities, i.e. mainly its Hindus, are being targeted has been propagated by Hasina’s supporters and sections of India’s Hindu right-wing.
False narratives about the alleged “genocide” of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, which are often accompanied by doctored footage, have gained traction across mainstream and social media platforms. They have heightened fears among minority communities. Fact-checkers have identified numerous instances of old images and unverified claims circulating online, with much of the fake news traced back to bots and trolls originating in India.
The disinformation campaign not only aims to distort perceptions about Bangladesh’s internal affairs but also intersects with broader geopolitical and ideological battles. The portrayal and characterization of the interim government, alongside the ascent of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, as a harbinger of chaos and religious persecution, risks exacerbating regional tensions and the fragile peace between Bangladesh and India. Relations between the two countries have further deteriorated after New Delhi allowed Hasina to stay temporarily in India until she receives asylum.
Additionally, the misinformation about the attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindus has the potential to inflame communal tensions within India, contributing to an increasingly volatile regional atmosphere.
Divergent Reactions
Hasina’s ouster and the subsequent establishment of an interim government under Yunus have elicited complex and varied responses both within Bangladesh and internationally. Domestically, the transition has triggered a mix of relief and apprehension, reflecting the polarized nature of Bangladeshi politics. While some view Yunus as a beacon of reform and a potential stabilizing force, others are skeptical of his ability to manage the country’s deep-seated political divisions and economic challenges. There are a few who even consider him a U.S. stooge.
Internationally, reactions have been similarly divided. Many Western nations have expressed cautious optimism about the interim government’s capability to foster democratic reforms and restore stability. In India, however, the reaction has been notably more charged, particularly among the Hindu right, which has long viewed Bangladesh through a communal prism. New Delhi seems to perceive the fall of Hasina — a leader often seen as aligned with Indian interests — as a strategic loss.
Hindus comprise around 8 percent of Bangladesh’s nearly 170 million population. Hasina’s party, the Awami League (AL), known for its secular and pro-India stance, has traditionally portrayed itself as a protector of Hindu interests in Bangladesh, though the ground reality often differed. This dynamic resulted in India’s Hindu right-wing viewing AL’s political fortunes as directly impacting the safety and status of Hindus in Bangladesh. This perception fuels much of the current disinformation campaigns, as the Indian right-wing seeks to protect what it perceives as its geopolitical and ideological interests.
Coordinated and Multipronged Propaganda Campaign
The disinformation campaign has relied heavily on several false narratives, each designed to stoke fears, deepen divisions, and undermine efforts to stabilize the country at a time when the situation on the ground remains volatile. Some of these claims include the ongoing “genocide” of Bangladeshi Hindus and the involvement of foreign actors in the student movement.
Some Indian media outlets have reported such stories with sensationalist headlines such as “Hindus slaughtered in Bangladesh, over one crore refugees may enter West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari.” Many of these claims are posted on social media with hashtags such as #HindusAreNotSafeinBangladesh, #Hindus, #SaveHindusinBangladesh, #AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus, #HelpBangladeshiHindus, and #HindusUnderAttack.
While some Indian/Hindu groups may have legitimate concerns about the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus following the surge in attacks across the country, much of this exaggerated and sensationalized coverage of the unfolding developments appears to be an attempt to fuel ethno-nationalist sentiments to reiterate the trope that Hindus are a besieged community and justify their continuous otherization of certain groups, particularly Muslims, within India.
Tropes of the involvement of a “third force” and foreign actors were also circulating at the height of the student demonstrations. DW’s Director for Asia Debarati Guha said in an interview that a “third force” was involved in the protests. Awami League leaders, including Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, were peddling the narrative that “some foreign intelligence element” was involved in the demonstrations without providing concrete evidence. For these groups, the political change is a “coup” or “anti-India conspiracy” that was hatched in collaboration with Pakistan and China.
The protest movement in Bangladesh was a bottom-up, secular, student-led, and student-owned expression of power following years of political, legal, and economic grievances. However, vested interests are falsely claiming that political opponents, extremist forces, and/or foreign actors hijacked the protests in a bid to sow distrust, confusion, and division.
Such baseless claims not only mischaracterize the uprising but also undermine its agency. The protests evolved into a mass mobilization that saw an awakening of the public to engage in nonviolent activism and mount pressure on the Hasina administration to resign.
While many claims of attacks on Hindus are fake or exaggerated, it is also true that minority communities, their houses, places of worship, and businesses have been vandalized amid the breakdown in law and order.
It’s not uncommon for chaos and instability to ensue following the sudden ouster of a regime and when there is a political vacuum. Many police officers went into hiding over fear of reprisals due to their heavy-handed handling of the demonstrations. Accordingly, the attacks on minorities seem motivated by political rather than communal factors, given that those affiliated with the AL, even in the most vague sense, have been the most affected.
According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Oikya Parishad, there have been “205 incidents of persecution” across 52 districts. However, the exact figures and motivations for the deadly violence have been hard to ascertain.
There have also been concerted efforts to protect minority communities from further attacks. The caretaker regime has condemned the violence, and locals have volunteered to protect minority neighborhoods and places of worship.
The sensationalized depiction of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh exacerbates communal fears and contributes to a volatile atmosphere. This environment not only amplifies anxiety but also creates conditions conducive to actual violence. Ultimately, these narratives divert attention from the actual sources of communal discord and protect entrenched political interests.
The widespread propaganda risks stoking further tensions and fear as Bangladesh tries to recover from the trauma and instability that unfolded during the student-led protests. It will not only discredit the new caretaker government but also the country’s efforts to restore law and order following Hasina’s exit.
Hasina benefited from India’s political patronage, with New Delhi prioritizing its security and economic interests over concerns about democratic backsliding under her government. However, India’s unwavering backing of Hasina has negatively impacted its regional standing. Her departure from the political arena, coupled with the disinformation campaign by some Indian groups, is likely to intensify anti-Indian sentiments in Bangladesh and reaffirm the narrative that New Delhi is seeking to destabilize its neighbor.
The ongoing disinformation campaign, especially propaganda efforts spearheaded by some Hindutva groups in India, risks exacerbating regional tensions and undermining the efforts of Bangladesh’s caretaker government to stabilize the country. The campaigns not only misrepresent the situation on the ground but also fuel communal fears and political instability, posing significant risks to regional peace and security.