In a report dated January 25, 2026, the fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner highlighted a concerning increase in disinformation about Bangladesh from Indian sources in 2025. The report documented 155 instances of disinformation, a nearly 5% rise from the previous year. Notably, 73 Indian news outlets were responsible for 140 misleading reports across 38 incidents.
Disinformation peaked in January, with 34 instances reported in that month alone. Though numbers dipped afterward, an average of 13 pieces of disinformation continued to circulate monthly. The platform X (formerly Twitter) was the primary channel for this misinformation, accounting for 81% of the total instances. Other social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, also contributed.
The report identified 91 communal instances of disinformation, emphasizing that over 58% of the falsehoods were related to communal issues. Major Indian media outlets, including NDTV and The Times of India, were involved in spreading communal propaganda.
Rumor Scanner’s findings indicate not only the extent of disinformation but also its intentional nature to incite communal tensions. The report points out that only verified claims were considered, suggesting the actual scale of misinformation may be even larger.
