Bangladesh News Bangladesh - India Relation

[Isa Khan]

Probably the most mature response from India. Not any crazy-dumb media talk.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi says all branches of the country’s armed forces have communication channels open with Bangladesh in order to “avoid misunderstandings”.

He made the remarks on Wednesday during an annual press conference of the Indian Armed Forces in New Delhi.

“As of today, all three services have kept their communication channels fully open,” Dwivedi said. “The Indian Army has multiple channels of communication open, and I remain in regular touch with their chief there.”

“In the same way, we are also in contact through our other channels as well. We had sent a delegation there, which met everyone on the ground. Similarly, the chief of the naval staff and the chief of the air staff have also spoken. The intention is to ensure that there is no miscommunication or misunderstanding.”

He gave assurances that whatever actions are being taken by the three services are “not directed against India in any way”.

Dwivedi added that India is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh amid recent developments and tensions.

"First of all, it is important for us to understand what kind of government is in place in Bangladesh. If it is an interim government, we need to see whether the actions it is taking are meant for the next four to five years, or only for the next four or five months. We have to judge whether there is any need for us to react immediately or not.”

He said, “As far as capability development is concerned, it is something that is an ongoing process. India is also doing it, and other countries are also doing it.”

All communication channels with Bangladesh open: Indian army chief

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi says he is in regular touch with his Bangladeshi counterpart

bdnews24.com

Jalpaiguri: Centre aims to revive several abandoned airstrips, some dating back to the World War-II era, in Bengal, Assam and Tripura. Sources said the govt wanted to increase regional connectivity in the states bordering Bangladesh at a time when India's relationship with the neighbouring nation had hit an all-time low.

Recently, Bangladesh also moved to redevelop the Lalmonirhat airbase in Rangpur, close to the Siliguri corridor. The corridor is also known as the "Chicken's Neck" and connects Northeast to the mainland.

Over the past year, extremist elements in Bangladesh have repeatedly threatened to ‘cut off' India's Northeast from the mainland. Although Bangladesh has officially stated that the Rangpur base's primary role was for its national needs and not for the use of any other nation's military, sources said India was not willing to take chances. India has already bolstered its military presence in the region by establishing three new Army bases: Chopra in Bengal, Kishanganj in Bihar, and Lachit Borphukan in Dhubri, Assam.

The airstrips that will be renovated are Ambari and Panga in Jalpaiguri, Balurghat in South Dinajpur, Jhaljhalia in Malda, and Dhubri in Assam. Cooch Behar and Rupsi in Assam's Kokrajhar district are already operational. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has handed over the airfields in Bengal to state govt. "India wants to keep the runways operation-ready," said an official.

Defence sources noted that while there are operational challenges, efforts are underway to make the strips usable. "Several airfields are covered with vegetation, broken, damaged, and in the midst of settlements, which makes them unfit for any major operation. However, minor repair work may be underway so that helicopters and small aircraft can land there in case of an emergency," a source said.

To bolster ‘Chicken’s Neck’ security, abandoned WWII-era airstrips will be revived | Kolkata News - The Times of India

Jalpaiguri: Centre aims to revive several abandoned airstrips, some dating back to the World War-II era, in Bengal, Assam and Tripura. Sources said th.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has remained firm on its decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup despite a request from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The board has once again informed the ICC that it will not play in India due to security concerns and has reiterated its request for Bangladesh’s matches to be hosted in another country outside India.

The BCB issued a press release over the matter following a video conference between the BCB and the ICC on Tuesday afternoon.

It says BCB president Aminul Islam, vice-presidents Md Sakhawat Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, cricket operations committee chairman Nazmul Abedin and chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury took part in the meeting on behalf of the board.

The BCB said it remains firm on its earlier decision not to send the team to India after assessing the security situation there.

During the meeting, however, the ICC asked the BCB to reconsider the decision, noting that the World Cup schedule has already been announced. The BCB said it has not changed its position.

The BCB has again proposed that Bangladesh’s matches be moved to a neutral venue outside India. The board said ensuring the safety and security of players, coaching staff and officials remains its top priority.

The ICC and the BCB have agreed to continue discussions to find a way out of the impasse. Both sides also decided to keep the dialogue going in the coming days.

Bangladesh refuses to play in India as BCB stands firm despite ICC request

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has remained firm on its decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup despite a request from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The board has once again informed the ICC that it will not play in India due to security concerns and has reiterated...

en.prothomalo.com

 

[Isa Khan]

India has reportedly decided to make Bangladesh a “non-family” posting for its diplomats, advising the families of officials stationed in the country to return home citing security concerns.

The Hindustan Times, citing sources familiar with the matter, said all five Indian missions in Bangladesh would continue to function at full strength despite the move, which it described as a precautionary step.

The Delhi-based English daily, citing unnamed sources, said the decision was inevitable in view of what it said “growing concerns about the safety of diplomats and their families, particularly due to threats from extremist and radical elements”.

“As a precautionary measure, we have advised the dependents of officials at the high commission and four assistant high commissions to return to India,” one source was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the assistant high commissions in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet will remain open and fully operational, the report added.

It remains unclear when dependants will return, with sources declining to disclose the number of Indian diplomats stationed in Bangladesh, citing security sensitivities.

The newspaper described a “non-family” posting as among the strictest security measures applied to Indian missions abroad.

It noted Pakistan, with which India’s relations are at an all-time low, is currently a “no children” posting, with spouses allowed to join officials, the report added.

Besides threats from “radical and extremist elements”, the report said “the freedom provided to Pakistani elements by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus” also contributed to the concerns.

Dhaka and Delhi have traded accusations and seen public protests since the Awami League government was toppled on Aug 5, 2024.

Diplomatic missions of both countries were targeted, with attacks and vandalism reported at Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi diplomatic posts in India, souring relations in recent months.

Relations deteriorated to the point that some visa services were suspended. Tensions escalated after attacks on minorities, particularly in Bangladesh, with both countries trading scathing remarks in public forums.

Both countries summoned each other’s high commissioners multiple times over a range of diplomatic issues.

Senior Indian leaders’ visits and condolence messages after the death of Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, have been seen as signalling a sudden thaw in Dhaka‑Delhi relations.

India plans to relocate families of diplomats from Bangladesh citing 'safety risks': report

The Hindustan Times describes a “non-family” posting as one of the most stringent security measures for Indian diplomats

bdnews24.com

 

[Isa Khan]

 

[Isa Khan]

Nine Indian officials stationed at the Rampal Coal-Fired Power Plant in Bagerhat have reportedly left Bangladesh without prior approval, sparking serious questions about security protocols and operational oversight at the high-profile facility.

The officials, all from India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), include senior-level personnel such as General Managers, Deputy General Managers, Assistant General Managers, and the Chief Financial Officer.

Their sudden departure was first noticed during breakfast, prompting immediate inquiries that revealed they had left the country without notifying plant authorities.

Project Director Ramanath Pujari said the officials cited “security concerns” for leaving, but their exit has raised alarms given the plant’s strict four-tier security system, which includes military, police, and Ansar personnel.

Sources noted that the officials had never previously reported any threats or safety issues, making their sudden departure highly unusual.

Anwarul Azim, Deputy General Manager (Public Relations), confirmed: “The officials left for India without prior permission. The matter has been escalated to higher authorities, and we are investigating the circumstances surrounding their departure.”

Security implications

Analysts and plant insiders are questioning how nine senior officials could exit a strategically sensitive facility undetected within a secure perimeter. The Rampal Power Plant, part of the 30-year coal-fired energy project near the Sundarbans, is considered critical infrastructure, making any unexplained personnel movements a potential security risk.

Concerns now focus on whether the departure reflects:

Gaps in internal security protocols

Possible threats that went unreported

Operational lapses in monitoring personnel movements

Experts say that given the geopolitical significance of the facility and its proximity to the Sundarbans ecologically sensitive zone, such an incident could prompt heightened scrutiny from both Bangladesh and Indian authorities, as well as a review of security procedures for foreign staff at the plant.

Officials have stressed that a full investigation is underway, and authorities are examining all angles, including security, operational accountability, and adherence to protocol.

https://www.jagonews24.com/en/business/news/89245

 

[Jackdaws]

Bangladesh is now officially out of the World Cup, replaced by Scotland. Fairly silly the entire thing. Probably will affect Bangladesh hosting ICC events in the future

 

[JOYDEEPGHOSH]

Revisiting 2001 #Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 #Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 #Bangladesh Liberation War​

Revisiting 2001 Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Recently after the coup orchestrated by USA in Bangladesh and setting up of a puppet government under Mohammed Yunus , who incidentally is...

rbt-defense.blogspot.com

 

[Afif]

Revisiting 2001 #Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 #Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 #Bangladesh Liberation War​

Revisiting 2001 Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Recently after the coup orchestrated by USA in Bangladesh and setting up of a puppet government under Mohammed Yunus , who incidentally is...

rbt-defense.blogspot.com

This is a prolonged denial stage of tagging 2024 July revolution as mere coup. The sooner Indian media, Think tanks, analysts get out of it, the better.

The fact of the matter is, every independence movement, revolution has its foreign supporters. Obviously U.S. and West supported people's movement against brutal Hassina regime as it was in their interest. But that doesn't make the revolution any less valid than the war of independence that was heavily backed and supported by India and Soviet Union.

As for the issue of attacks on minorities, I am sure there are several instances of very unfortunate events and the perpetrators are being bought/should be bought to justice.
(This isn't unique to BD, it is general phenomenon across South Asia, This mob violence. I don't have to point to similar incidents in India at this same period) However, there are no valid evidence of dramatic systematic discrimination under Yunus Admin. If we analysis the overall data, it can only be understood by comparing the statistics (from neutral sources) of this 1.5 years with those of Hassina era.

If you can come up with that and say, See, here's the spike in statistics under Yunus. Then we can discuss this issue of supposed escalation in discrimination more properly.

And for the silly inflammatory statements coming out from some idiots, all I can say is, this has been going on in India long before. I used to flag them here in this forum before. This Akhand Bharat talk and attacking and annexing Bangladesh, etc. Seems like Bangladeshi idiots has also picked up on this trend with greater Bangladesh map, etc.

As for invading and annexing Rangpur and Sylhet District, India would have had better luck with it if it was in a neighborhood like that of USA. Where it is undisputed and protected from its strategic adversaries by two ocean.

However, the reality is India has two nuclear armed adversary with active territorial dispute on its Northern and Western borders. With both of whom it had wars/armed conflicts with (in the distance and near past). One is significantly stronger than India and the other is smaller but nevertheless dangerous enough. It required India to allocate most of its military resources to those two fronts.

This is the strategic context of South Asia.

Secondly, if you are familiar with military literature, you should know the nature of war has shifted since 1945 and 1971 due to rapid advances in various technologies. In 21th Century operational environment Defence has the upper hand unlike how it was before.

Not that being the defender itself will win you the war, but the fact is, BD would probably mount effective conventional and unconventional assymetric defence against any all out invasion and annexation attempts.

It is true that we are not prepared for this, but that is because we don't have a military dimension in BD-India relation yet. This is something that I said before. (@Nilgiri can weigh in on here later tonight if he wants)

But if it ever comes to that, BD with its relatively limited resources can prepare prohibitively costly assymetric defense for such invasion and annexation attempt in above-mentioned strategic context of South Asia. Remember, Air power can achieve limited political objective. But they don't annex and hold territories.

 

[Areeb]

Revisiting 2001 #Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 #Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 #Bangladesh Liberation War​

Revisiting 2001 Bangladesh India Clashes, 1947 Sylhet Referendum, and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Recently after the coup orchestrated by USA in Bangladesh and setting up of a puppet government under Mohammed Yunus , who incidentally is...

rbt-defense.blogspot.com

I once had the opportunity to see General Fazlur in real life. He mentioned that there were around 400 casualties on India’s side, but they were unable to recover 18 bodies. That is what was shared with the public.

 

[dronie]

I once had the opportunity to see General Fazlur in real life. He mentioned that there were around 400 casualties on India’s side, but they were unable to recover 18 bodies. That is what was shared with the public.

Well as if 300+ troops getting killed aint gonna cause any sort of concern from their families or left any evidence. Those guys were literally outnumbered by Bangladeshi soldiers and civilians who mobbed them and brutally killed them.If it was any other serious country Bangladesh would have got a battering they would have remembered for a lifetime.

 

[Afif]

Well as if 300+ troops disappearing aint gonna cause any sort of concern from their families or left any evidence. Those guys were literally outnumbered by Bangladeshi soldiers and civilians who mobbed them and brutally killed them.If it was any other serious country Bangladesh would have got a battering they would have remembered for a lifetime.

Illegally and poorly conducted cross-border raid will always result in elimination of the aggressor party.

Like what are you trying to say?
Let us in and do whatever we want. wE aRe sO bIG if you try to resist we will tEaCh yOu a lEsSon. Lol.

 

[dronie]

Illegally and poorly conducted cross-border raid will always result in elimination of the aggressor party.

Like what are you trying to say?
Let us in and do whatever we want. wE aRe sO bIG if you try to resist we will tEaCh yOu a lEsSon. Lol.

Playing the victim when the BDR where the first ones to attack and raid an indian village. The so called cross border raid you say where just 18 BSF guys who took action mostly on a battalion level and then got viciously killed and mistreated. The images of the bodies are on the internet and shows obvious signs of torture.India was busy with the Kashmir that time or you guys would had tough time eliminating a real cross border raid by the military. In the end it validated only one thing the shoot orders for Bangladesh border are for a reason and BDR showed it true colours in 2009.

 

[Areeb]

Playing the victim when the BDR where the first ones to attack and raid an indian village. The so called cross border raid you say where just 18 BSF guys who took action mostly on a battalion level and then got viciously killed and mistreated. The images of the bodies are on the internet and shows obvious signs of torture.India was busy with the Kashmir that time or you guys would had tough time eliminating a real cross border raid by the military. In the end it validated only one thing the shoot orders for Bangladesh border are for a reason and BDR showed it true colours in 2009.

Do you even have the idea about the background ?


The occupation of
padua
(known in India as)
pyrdiwah
was the trigger for the 2001 border clash. It centered on a 230-250 acre "adverse possession"—a piece of land legally belonging to Bangladesh but inhabited and controlled by India since 1971.

The Trigger
The immediate cause was the construction of a pucca (link) road by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). The road was intended to connect the Padua camp with another Indian camp 10 km away. The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) argued this construction violated international law and the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement because it crossed through Bangladeshi-owned territory.

 

[Areeb]

BDR showed it true colours in 2009

india was involved in that killing

 

[dronie]

Do you even have the idea about the background ?


The occupation of
padua
(known in India as)
pyrdiwah
was the trigger for the 2001 border clash. It centered on a 230-250 acre "adverse possession"—a piece of land legally belonging to Bangladesh but inhabited and controlled by India since 1971.

The Trigger
The immediate cause was the construction of a pucca (link) road by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). The road was intended to connect the Padua camp with another Indian camp 10 km away. The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) argued this construction violated international law and the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement because it crossed through Bangladeshi-owned territory.

And skipping the whole BDR occupying an indian village and forcing it's residents to leave.

india was involved in that killing

Is there anything that doesnt involve india in Bangladesh? You guys are so much in over your india hatred that your people were claiming that they heard hindi speaking indians killing people. Even made the connection that indian anti terror unit was involved because they wear black . The only thing india did during the crisis was stand stupidly with Hasina and threatening an armed intervention.

 

[Isa Khan]

The national review committee probing power sector agreements signed during the ousted Awami League regime has gathered evidence strong enough for Bangladesh to initiate international legal proceedings against Adani Power Limited, committee members told The Business Standard yesterday.

The evidence includes both direct and circumstantial proof of bribery involving Bangladeshi officials during the deal-signing process, according to multiple members of the committee. Investigators have documented suspicious financial transactions routed through foreign bank accounts held by public servants, with detailed records covering account numbers, transaction dates and times, and beneficiary identities.

Committee members said the material has been independently examined and validated by a team of expert lawyers led by a UK-based King's Counsel, engaged by the Power Division on the committee's recommendation several months ago. After reviewing the evidence, the legal team concluded that Bangladesh has sufficient grounds to file a fraud case against Adani Power Limited for bribery and corrupt practices.

The committee formally disclosed its findings at a press briefing on Monday.

Evidence vetted by international legal experts

Speaking at the briefing, committee member Mushtaq Husain Khan, an economist at the University of London, said whistleblowers and international organisations monitoring Adani's global operations had been approached from the outset of the investigation.

"There are many organisations worldwide that closely track Adani and possess extensive research on its deals. They shared large volumes of information with us," Mushtaq said. "...much of it was highly credible — detailed, vivid documentation."

That information was subsequently assessed by international legal experts, who concluded that the evidence met the threshold required to pursue fraud and corruption charges in an international forum, he added.

"The Adani deal itself establishes prima facie evidence of corruption," Mushtaq said. "No rational politician or bureaucrat could have signed such a contract in good faith."

After the briefing, Power and Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan confirmed to TBS that the panel had collected concrete evidence of financial transactions linking Adani officials and Bangladeshi public servants.

"Yes, the committee has strong evidence to indict Adani," he said. "Money transactions took place between Adani officials and Bangladeshi officials, and the panel is ready to submit this evidence to court once legal proceedings begin."

He declined to specify the ranks or positions of the officials involved.

Findings shared with ACC

Committee member and former World Bank Dhaka office lead economist Zahid Hussain said the evidence, including circumstantial material, had already been shared with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigation.

"Based on the evidence presented to the King's Counsel and the legal opinions we received, experts believe the government should, and most likely will, win the case," Zahid told TBS.

Earlier on Monday, Zahid described the Adani agreement as a "cancerous wound" during a TBS talk show, Kemon Sangsad Chai.

Officials allegedly involved

According to committee members, Ahmad Kaikaus, senior secretary during the deal period from 23 February 2017 to 19 December 2019, played a central role in advancing the agreement. Investigators allege that Adani officials approached him both domestically and overseas.

The review found substantial sums deposited in Kaikaus's foreign bank accounts. Analysis of transaction histories and travel patterns of Kaikaus and other officials indicated what the committee described as large-scale corruption, with several public servants personally benefiting during the negotiation and approval process.

Others named in the findings include former principal secretary to Sheikh Hasina Abul Kalam Azad; former Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairmen Khaled Mahmud and Md Mahabubur Rahman; Power Grid Company managing director Golam Kibria; and multiple officials from the Power Division, BPDB, and Power Cell.

Both Kaikaus and Azad, former Power Division secretaries, later became principal secretaries to the prime minister. Kaikaus is currently living in the United States, while Azad is in jail in connection with multiple cases linked to alleged irregularities during the Awami League regime.

King's Counsel to advise on next steps

Committee chair Moinul Islam Chowdhury told TBS that, on the NRC's recommendation, the Power Division formed a specialised legal team led by a UK-based King's Counsel to advise on the Adani deal.

King's Counsel is an honorary designation for senior barristers or solicitors recognised for exceptional expertise, particularly in complex commercial, cross-border, and fraud-related litigation.

Moinul Islam said the committee's findings were strong enough to initiate proceedings at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), adding that alleged perpetrators had been questioned multiple times during the review process.

Strength of the bribery case

Mushtaq said the committee had collected unusually robust evidence by international standards.

"We have very specific details — names of beneficiaries, bank account information, identities of public servants, travel patterns, and transactional behaviour during the deal period," he said. "Several million dollars were mobilised."

UK-based fraud experts, he added, described the strength of the evidence as rare in corruption cases.

He stressed that any decision to cancel the Adani deal should prioritise Bangladesh's interests and be upheld regardless of changes in political leadership.

"We possess far more documentation than is normally required in a standard fraud case," Mushtaq said.

Referring to Adani's international track record, he cited ongoing legal proceedings in the United States over allegations of bribing Indian officials, the cancellation of a power deal memorandum of understanding in Sri Lanka, and scrutiny in other jurisdictions.

"Adani is known globally as a controversial business entity," he said, adding that the final decision on the deal would rest with the next elected government.

Currently, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice are pursuing legal action against Gautam Adani in a New York federal court over alleged large-scale bribery and fraud.

Why the deal raised red flags

At Monday's briefing, Mushtaq identified three fundamental flaws in the Adani agreement: site selection, power pricing, and contractual terms.

The coal-fired plant was initially proposed for Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar or Godda in India's Jharkhand state, but without any documented justification, it was ultimately built in Godda, he said.

"There was no technical discussion, documentation, or justification for the tariff," Mushtaq added, questioning why Bangladesh should pay taxes on electricity generated from a plant located in India.

He also noted that Bangladesh would bear the financial risk if the plant were damaged by political unrest inside India.

"Taking all these factors together, we concluded that the deal could only have been signed through corruption, there is no other plausible explanation," he said.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board and Adani Power Limited signed a 25-year power purchase agreement in November 2017 to import 1,496MW of electricity from Adani's 1,600MW coal-fired plant in Jharkhand. The first 800MW unit began operations in April 2023.

When contacted, 5w Communications, which handles public relations for Adani Power in Bangladesh, did not respond to messages or phone calls.

Enough evidence to take Adani to international arbitration

UK legal team concludes Bangladesh has sufficient grounds to sue Indian power giant for bribery, graft

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

• 155 instances of disinformation about Bangladesh identified across Indian media and social platforms.
• Evidence of disinformation in 140 reports across 38 incidents in 73 media outlets of the country.
• Nearly 58% of the identified misinformation pertains to communal incidents.
• In 33 incidents, Muslims were falsely portrayed as Hindus.

The trend of disinformation about Bangladesh originating from Indian sources is becoming increasingly alarming. In 2025, Rumor Scanner found evidence of at least 155 instances of disinformation about Bangladesh across various Indian media and social platforms, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.

These figures not only highlight the spread of disinformation but also reveal a persistent upward trend. Even more concerning is the active role of mainstream Indian media in spreading these falsehoods. Last year, 73 Indian news outlets published a total of 140 reports across 38 incidents, all containing misleading or false information about Bangladesh.

Disinformation peaked at the start of the year​

For the past few years, various Indian accounts, pages, and mainstream media have been consistently spreading disinformation about Bangladesh on social platforms. This trend continued in 2025 as well. In fact, at the start of the year, Indian sources circulated 34 instances of disinformation in January alone—the highest number recorded for any single month last year.

Although the numbers dropped slightly in the following months, the flow of disinformation did not stop. In May, the fewest instances—just four—were recorded. Yet, Rumor Scanner found that Indian accounts and media coordinated to spread an average of at least 13 pieces of disinformation per month last year.

The threat of X remains unabated​

Microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) has consistently been the most used platform for spreading disinformation about Bangladesh by Indian sources. Last year, out of 155 instances of disinformation, Rumor Scanner found evidence of 126 being circulated through various X accounts—meaning nearly 81% of all disinformation appeared on X.

Beyond X, Indian accounts and pages spread 54 instances of disinformation about Bangladesh on Facebook last year. Other platforms involved include YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Even Indian mainstream media played a role, propagating disinformation in at least 38 separate incidents.

These findings clearly show that digital platforms have become the primary medium for spreading disinformation about Bangladesh from Indian sources. Among them, X plays the most influential role. When over 80% of the identified disinformation in a single year is concentrated on one platform, it signals not just a statistic but a structural trend—an organized effort to create and disseminate a specific narrative.

Even more concerning is the involvement of Indian mainstream media. Disinformation spread through the media carries far greater credibility among the public and directly influences opinion formation.

Unbridled Communal Propaganda ​

In 2025, Rumor Scanner identified 155 instances of disinformation spread by Indian sources, of which 91 were communal in nature. This means nearly 58% of the detected disinformation related to communal incidents. The primary platform for spreading such communal disinformation is X, where Indian sources circulated at least 85 communal falsehoods last year.

Indian mainstream media have also played a role in this campaign of communal propaganda. Evidence shows that in at least 10 incidents, Indian media outlets spread communal falsehoods involving Bangladesh. Among the platforms implicated are major outlets such as NDTV, The Times of India, Zee News, WION (World Is One News), India Today, Hindustan Times, News18, TV9, ABP, and Mirror Now.

These statistics raise deeper concerns. They reveal not just the volume of disinformation, but also its nature and intent. A significant portion of the 155 identified falsehoods consists of content capable of directly stoking religious divisions. This indicates that a substantial part of the disinformation originating from Indian sources about Bangladesh is being deliberately propagated to foment communal tensions.

Disinformation about Bangladesh across 73 Indian media outlets​

In 2025, Rumor Scanner analyzed fact-checks of disinformation circulated in Indian media and found that in 38 incidents, 73 news outlets published disinformation involving Bangladesh. The number of misleading reports per outlet ranged from as many as 10 to as few as one. A total of 140 reports across these 73 outlets were verified, all containing evidence of disinformation.

In terms of sheer volume of disinformation, the Indian satellite news channel ‘Aajtak Bangla’ tops the list. Out of 32 incidents, this channel spread disinformation in 10 cases. In 2024, Aajtak Bangla ranked fourth on this list.


On July 9 last year, Lal Chand, also known as Sohag, a scrap dealer in Dhaka’s Mitford area, was brutally murdered. Following this, at least 27 Indian media outlets falsely claimed that Sohag was a Hindu—a completely untrue assertion. This single incident received the highest coverage among Indian media last year.

Additionally, Rumor Scanner found that 16 Indian outlets spread disinformation in December around James’ concert in Faridpur, and 12 outlets propagated false claims in June regarding the revocation of recognition for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other national leaders as freedom fighters.

It is important to note that this list does not represent the full scale of disinformation by Indian media. Only verifiable claims that were fact-checked by Rumor Scanner are included. Instances that escaped fact-check scrutiny could make the actual picture far graver.

Disinformation portraying Muslims as Hindus is widespread​

Last year, the most common type of disinformation and communal propaganda targeting Bangladesh involved falsely portraying a Muslim victim of an attack or assault as a Hindu, framing it as a communal incident. Rumor Scanner identified at least 33 such instances in 2025.

Another familiar pattern is presenting older incidents as recent communal attacks in Bangladesh—Rumor Scanner documented at least eight such cases.

Even scripted content created for entertainment was falsely presented as real, with at least six such instances detected. In five cases, the events actually occurred in India, yet were falsely claimed to have happened in Bangladesh.

Beyond these, Indian mainstream media, alongside social platforms, were active in spreading disinformation about various internal issues in Bangladesh during this period.

Is Bangladesh becoming a guinea pig for subcontinental crises? ​

Disinformation originating from India is steadily increasing. Rumor Scanner spoke with Indian journalist Arka Bhaduri, who warned that the impact of disinformation is severely damaging relations between the people of India and Bangladesh. Misconceptions are being formed about each other, giving rise to intense hatred and hostility, which then spill over onto social media.

Rajib Nandy, Associate Professor of the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Chittagong believes Bangladesh also bears responsibility. In his conversation with Rumor Scanner, he said, “The unchecked rise of mob violence, repeated communal attacks, and the absence of strong and credible responses at the state level are effectively providing real-world raw material for the exaggerations of Indian media. Weak governance, failure to maintain law and order, and the lack of a clear political stance against violence are making the situation even more complex.”

Rajib fears that if Bangladesh’s governance system fails to take a clear, firm, and moral stand against violence, these distorted and exaggerated narratives in the neighboring country’s media will continue to be reproduced in the future.

According to this media researcher, disinformation is no longer merely a journalistic failure; it has become a strategic tool for shaping public opinion and political narratives about a neighboring state.

Arka has long been vocal on this issue and has discussed it in both Bangladeshi and Indian media. The Kolkata-based journalist believes that the subcontinental roots of communal tensions affect both countries.

“Communal violence undeniably exists in Bangladesh. It existed even during the Awami League’s tenure—we saw incidents like Nasirnagar, Ramu, and the bloody violence in Durga Puja of 2021. The problem still persists, just as minorities are also under threat in India. This is not the problem of any one country; it is a curse on the entire subcontinent. But when mainstream media spreads false and exaggerated information, the problem becomes trivialized—and that is dangerous.”

Beyond specific incidents, flows of disinformation from Indian sources appear at various times. When asked whether governments or policymakers in either country should be blamed for failing to take effective measures, Arka expressed skepticism. “I don’t think governments can realistically do much; any intervention would immediately be criticized as interference in media freedom.”

He believes that fact-checking and building people-to-people connections between the two countries offer the most viable way to ease the situation.

When asked whether Indian domestic politics is accelerating anti-Bangladesh narratives, Rajib Nandy responded that political positions on minority rights in India cannot be seen as uniformly anti-Bangladesh. “It is primarily a combination of domestic vote-bank politics, identity sensitivity, and strategic political messaging.”

However, Rajib also believes that through visual exaggeration, dramatic language, and unverified information, sections of the Indian media are crossing ethical boundaries and constructing emotionally charged, conflict-driven narratives.

Methodology​

These statistics are based on reports published on the Rumor Scanner website from January to December 2025. For the purpose of preparing this analysis, data from each report over the past year were systematically collected and stored in a dedicated database. The data were then analyzed, and the findings were subsequently presented through infographics and written content. Finally, two experts from Bangladesh and India were interviewed to provide insights on the results.

Bangladesh Targeted: 140 Disinformation Across 73 Indian News Outlets

Nearly 58% of the identified misinformation pertains to communal incidents.

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