49 Indian media outlets spread fake news about Bangladesh

Fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner has found that following the fall of the Awami League government, Indian media outlets began circulating a series of rumors about the situation in Bangladesh. A total of 49 Indian media outlets have spread such fake stories so far. 

An investigation by the Rumor Scanner team found that between August 12 and December 5, 13 false reports were published in Indian media. A total of 49 Indian media outlets were identified for spreading these fake news stories, Rumor Scanner reported on Friday (December 6).

Among the 49 media, Republic Bangla led the list, broadcasting five rumors. Hindustan Times, Zee News, and Live Mint followed closely, each spreading three rumors. Additionally, Republic, India Today, ABP Anand, and Aaj Tak each broadcast two rumors.

The remaining 41 media outlets each broadcasted one rumor.

Among these rumors were: a fake open letter attributed to Sheikh Hasina after her resignation, a video of a human chain by a Muslim man searching for his missing son being falsely claimed to involve a Hindu person, a false report claiming Dr. Muhammad Yunus was admitted to the ICU, baseless claims about lifting the ban on banned militant organizations in Bangladesh, a fabricated story claiming Dr. Yunus fled to France after Trump’s victory, false allegations about arms being smuggled into Bangladesh via a Pakistani ship, misrepresentation of the slain lawyer Saiful Islam as Chinmoy Krishna’s lawyer, rumors about Indian channels being banned in Bangladesh, the spreading of a video of idol immersion in India falsely claiming it was in response to Hindu idols being destroyed in Bangladesh due to Muslim attacks, a false claim about an attack on a Shyamoli Paribahan bus, fabricated reports of an assault on Chinmoy Krishna’s lawyer, and misleading news about the UK issuing a travel advisory due to potential terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.