Fake news epidemic: India’s role in undermining Bangladesh’s stability

In the volatile aftermath of the Sheikh Hasina regime's collapse in Bangladesh, a deluge of fake news has flooded Indian mainstream media and social platforms. This surge in disinformation is not only destabilizing internal dynamics within Bangladesh but is also straining the historically amicable ties between the two South Asian neighbors. Despite the transboundary nature of this crisis, India’s failure to address the issue underscores an unsettling reality: misinformation is being weaponized, intentionally or otherwise, to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. The attack on the Agartala Bangladeshi Mission stands as a stark symbol of the dangerous consequences of unchecked fake news.

India has long been flagged as a major source of fake news. The 2024 Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum unequivocally identifies India as the nation most vulnerable to the threats of misinformation and disinformation. However, the situation has reached a boiling point with the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina administration. Fake news targeting Bangladesh has skyrocketed, focusing on issues related to minorities, governance, foreign policy, and Bangladesh-India relations.

What makes this particularly alarming is the participation of prominent Indian media outlets in spreading these falsehoods, alongside fringe platforms. These narratives are not merely coincidental—they align with the geopolitical interests of India and its apparent support for Sheikh Hasina. The former prime minister, now a fugitive facing charges of crimes against humanity, is reportedly using her refuge in India to destabilize the Bangladeshi interim government. This unholy nexus of political opportunism and media complicity is poisoning the bilateral relationship.

The fallout is tangible. Recent attacks on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in Agartala and Kolkata highlight how disinformation has fueled hostility. Fake reports regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a disgraced former ISKCON leader, are just one example of how misinformation is igniting tensions. These events underscore the dire need for India to confront this escalating crisis.

While there is no direct evidence implicating the Indian government in orchestrating this fake news campaign, its persistent inaction is tantamount to complicity. Media outlets in India operate under regulatory frameworks that the government has the capacity to enforce. Yet, despite relentless efforts by fact-checkers from Bangladesh and beyond, Indian authorities have failed to take meaningful action.

This deliberate omission raises serious questions about India’s adherence to international legal norms. The principle of non-intervention, a cornerstone of customary international law, explicitly prohibits states from interfering in the domestic affairs of others. The dissemination of transnational fake news increasingly qualifies as a coercive act, violating this principle.

Moreover, the 1981 UNGA Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States—supported by both India and Bangladesh—mandates abstention from defamatory propaganda against another state. By turning a blind eye to the proliferation of fake news, India appears to be violating this commitment.

India’s failure to curb fake news is not merely an oversight—it is a reflection of deeper geopolitical motives. An unstable Bangladesh serves the interests of Sheikh Hasina and her allies in the Awami League, who may seek to regain political relevance through chaos. For India, supporting the political rehabilitation of the Awami League aligns with its strategic goals, even at the expense of Bangladesh’s stability. This alignment of interests between Indian media outlets and political elites is too conspicuous to ignore. By allowing disinformation to thrive, India undermines Bangladesh’s efforts to rebuild after a 15-year authoritarian regime marred by corruption and economic mismanagement. The interim government’s struggle to restore the rule of law is being actively sabotaged by this relentless misinformation campaign.

India’s inaction also betrays its constitutional obligations. Article 19 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party, permits restrictions on free expression to protect national security, public order, and the rights of others. Similarly, the Indian Constitution allows reasonable limits on freedom of expression, including protecting friendly relations with foreign states.

Despite these legal frameworks, India has chosen to disregard its responsibility to curb transnational fake news. This inaction not only undermines the credibility of Indian democracy but also fuels distrust among its neighbors. By failing to act, India risks tarnishing its image on the global stage, where it is already viewed with suspicion for its role in propagating disinformation. India’s silence and inaction in the face of a fake news epidemic targeting Bangladesh is more than a passive oversight—it is an indirect act of interference. The narratives crafted by Indian media are destabilizing a nation striving to recover from years of authoritarian misrule. If India continues down this path, it will not only jeopardize its bilateral relations with Bangladesh but also expose itself as a nation unwilling to uphold international norms of good neighborliness.

A Regional Powder Keg

The unchecked spread of fake news from India into Bangladesh is more than just a bilateral issue—it is a ticking time bomb for regional stability. South Asia, a region already fraught with historical tensions, cannot afford further destabilization. Bangladesh, a critical economic hub and geostrategic partner, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the balance of power in the region. However, India’s disinformation campaign threatens to unravel the social and political fabric of its neighbor, leaving both nations vulnerable to external manipulation and internal unrest.

The surge of fake news has created an atmosphere of mistrust and hostility, eroding years of diplomatic goodwill. This is particularly damaging at a time when Bangladesh’s interim government is striving to stabilize the country and foster regional cooperation. India’s failure to curtail this disinformation not only alienates Bangladesh but also undermines the possibility of unified action on shared challenges like climate change, cross-border terrorism, and 

economic development.

India’s global image has already taken a hit due to its notoriety as a hotbed of fake news production. The 2024 Global Risks Report identifying India as the most vulnerable to misinformation is not just a statistic; it is a damning indictment of the nation’s failure to regulate its information ecosystem. By allowing disinformation to target Bangladesh unchecked, India risks solidifying its reputation as a purveyor of global instability.

This perception has far-reaching consequences. India’s ambitions to position itself as a global leader in technology and governance are at odds with its inability—or unwillingness—to tackle the fake news crisis. Countries in the Global South, especially those in South Asia, are watching closely. If India cannot manage its own media landscape responsibly, how can it claim moral authority in regional or international diplomacy?

Furthermore, this disinformation epidemic undermines the credibility of legitimate Indian media outlets. As fake news proliferates, it becomes increasingly difficult for the international community to distinguish between fact and fiction. This dynamic mirrors the cautionary tale of “The Shepherd and the Tiger,” where repeated false alarms lead to a loss of trust. If this trend continues, genuine concerns voiced by India in international forums may be disregarded, leaving it diplomatically isolated.

The international community cannot afford to stand by as fake news destabilizes South Asia. While transnational disinformation is not a new phenomenon, it is becoming a more potent weapon in the digital age. The lack of robust international frameworks to address this issue is glaring. Existing treaties like the 1936 International Convention on the Use of Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace and the 1953 Convention on the International Right of Correction are outdated and lack widespread adoption.

The principle of non-intervention offers some recourse, but it requires active enforcement. The 1981 UNGA Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States is a step in the right direction, but its lack of binding mechanisms limits its effectiveness. What is needed now is a global coalition to develop modern legal and technological tools to counter transnational fake news campaigns.

Bangladesh, as a victim of this disinformation onslaught, has every right to demand accountability from India. Diplomatic channels must be leveraged to press for stronger regulatory action against fake news sources. Simultaneously, international organizations should step in to mediate and ensure compliance with established norms of good neighborliness.

India’s continued inaction in addressing fake news targeting Bangladesh is a short-sighted and damaging strategy. If India wishes to maintain its influence in the region and its reputation on the global stage, it must take immediate, decisive action. Regulating fake news is not an infringement on freedom of expression—it is a necessity for maintaining national and international harmony.

India has the legal tools at its disposal. Both Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 19 of the Indian Constitution allow for reasonable restrictions on free expression, particularly when it comes to maintaining friendly relations with foreign states. By invoking these provisions, India can crack down on fake news while safeguarding its democratic values.

Failure to act will not only exacerbate tensions with Bangladesh but also tarnish India’s standing in South Asia and beyond. The longer India delays, the deeper the damage to its bilateral ties with Bangladesh, and the more irreparable its image becomes as a reliable partner in regional stability.

India stands at a crossroads. It can continue down the path of negligence, allowing fake news to poison its relationship with Bangladesh and destabilize the region. Or, it can take a stand against disinformation, proving its commitment to truth, stability, and good neighborliness.

The choice is clear. India must confront the reality of its fake news problem and take immediate action to regulate transnational disinformation. For the sake of its own credibility, for the stability of Bangladesh, and for the future of South Asia, India cannot afford to remain a silent spectator to this crisis. The time to act is now. The stakes—both moral and strategic—have never been higher.