Rumor Scanner in 2025: A Year in Review with a Record 4195 Pieces of Misinformation

4,195 pieces of misinformation detected, which is 30 percent higher than the previous year.
2,281 political disinformation items detected, including 309 related to the election.
464 pieces of misinformation involving the Interim Government; Dr. Yunus was the victim of 212 pieces of misinformation.
Among political parties, the Awami League was involved in the most disinformation; among individuals, Sheikh Hasina was the most involved.
219 pieces of misinformation regarding the Army, 133 regarding the Police.
The highest amount of disinformation was observed regarding the Osman Hadi killing issue.
The use of AI-Deepfakes increased by 409 percent.
The use of fake media photocards increased by 47 percent.

Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, 2025 bade farewell amidst various political equations and events. The Bangladeshi fact-checking organization, Rumor Scanner, detected a record 4,195 pieces of misinformation last year. In the previous year, i.e., 2024, 2,919 pieces of misinformation were detected. In the span of one year, Rumor Scanner observed an increase in misinformation by approximately 30 percent.

Instagram was a concern alongside Facebook

In 2025, 3,806 pieces of misinformation were detected on Facebook. By this calculation, on average, more than 10 pieces of misinformation were disseminated daily on this platform. After Facebook, Instagram spread the most misinformation as a single platform (1,118 items). Within the year, TikTok and YouTube spread 677 and 653 pieces of misinformation, respectively. Last year, a significant amount of disinformation regarding Bangladesh was circulated on X (formerly Twitter). Rumor Scanner published reports identifying 457 such pieces of disinformation spreading on this platform. In addition to social media, mass media also played a role in spreading misinformation. Last year, 110 pieces of misinformation were detected in reports published by the country’s media outlets.

Political disinformation dominates the pre-election year

The country’s 13th National Parliamentary Election is set to be held on February 12. Centering this election, Rumor Scanner detected 309 pieces of misinformation last year. In total, 2,281 pieces of disinformation regarding politics were detected in one year, which is higher than any other category. This data clearly indicates that political issues were the primary field for spreading fake information last year. As a category, the highest number of misinformation items in a single month was detected in the political sector (446 in December).

The number of national-level fake information items was 819, which is the second highest. 374 pieces of fake information regarding international affairs were found.

Monthly analysis shows that the number of fake information items increased significantly towards the end of the year, particularly in November and December. Although the number of fake information items in religious, education, sports, and entertainment & literature categories was comparatively lower, they played a role in creating social confusion. Fraud and other categories were also regularly present.

More misinformation in the 3rd Quarter

In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 837 pieces of misinformation were detected, which is comparatively lower and indicates that the information environment was relatively stable at the beginning of the year. In the second quarter, this number rose to 958, reflecting a gradual increase in misinformation activity.

In the third quarter, the number remained at almost the same level, i.e., 959 pieces of misinformation were found, implying that while the rate of misinformation dissemination remained stable during the mid-year period, it did not decrease. However, the most concerning picture is seen in the fourth quarter, where the number of misinformation items suddenly surged to 1,441. This is significantly higher compared to the other quarters of the year.

Political events, election-related discussions, and important national and international issues influenced this increase in the fourth quarter.

More disinformation in favor of AL; against BNP-Jamaat-NCP

Ahead of the National Parliamentary Election, almost all political parties were active in the political arena last year. Amidst this, on May 12 of last year, the Interim Government issued a notification banning the activities of the Awami League and all its affiliated, associated, and fraternal organizations. Prior to this, in a special meeting of the government’s advisory council, the decision was made to ban the party’s activities until the trial of the Awami League for the killings of July-August is completed. In November 2024, the government had declared the party’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, as a banned organization. Even though activities were banned, Awami League leaders and activists were seen to be vocal online throughout the year on various issues. Active roles of the party’s leaders and activists were observed in circulating old procession videos, AI content, and various issue-based disinformation.

Analyzing the reports published by Rumor Scanner last year, it was found that the maximum number of disinformation items (966) circulated during this time involved the Awami League, its affiliated and fraternal organizations, and its leaders and activists. Among these, in about 93 percent of the disinformation circulated involving the Awami League as a party, there was scope to create a positive attitude in favor of the party. Evidence was found of 273 pieces of disinformation (88 percent positive) circulated involving the party’s President, Sheikh Hasina, during this time.

Among the parties active in the country’s politics, the highest amount of disinformation in 2025 involved the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Rumor Scanner detected 702 pieces of disinformation circulated involving the BNP, its affiliated organizations, and leaders and activists. Among these, 212 pieces of disinformation were circulated involving the BNP as a party, of which nearly 93 percent created scope for a negative attitude towards the party. Additionally, 109 pieces of disinformation (66 percent negative presentation) were circulated involving the party’s Chairman, Tarique Rahman, during this time.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is also on the list of parties about whom more than five hundred pieces of disinformation were spread. 589 pieces of disinformation were detected involving the party, its affiliated organizations, and leaders and activists. Among these, about 83 percent of the disinformation circulated involving Jamaat as a party created scope for a negative attitude towards the party. Additionally, 51 pieces of disinformation (negative presentation in 92 percent of cases) were circulated involving the party’s Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, during this time.

Apart from this, among the disinformation detected involving the National Citizens’ Party (Jatiya Nagorik Party), Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Gono Odhikar Parishad, negative presentation regarding the parties was predominant.

Continuous misinformation involving the Interim Government

The Interim Government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been in power for nearly a year and a half. Last year, Rumor Scanner detected 464 pieces of misinformation circulated involving the government and government advisors. Among these, 107 pieces of misinformation spread involving the government specifically, and in about 91 percent of these cases, the government was presented negatively.

Additionally, 212 pieces of misinformation were detected involving Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus last year, and in about 93 percent of these cases, he was presented negatively.

No sector was spared from the flow of misinformation

Analyzing the Rumor Scanner reports of 2025, it was found that as an individual, Sheikh Hasina’s name was involved in the highest number of misinformation items last year. Dr. Muhammad Yunus holds the next position on this combined list. In the third position is the spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, Osman Hadi, who was the victim of a murder last December. While Sheikh Hasina and Osman Hadi occupy the first two positions in the political arena, Tarique Rahman’s name is found in the third position. In the national sphere, however, Dr. Yunus is in the top position. The subsequent positions are held by Government Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul and the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Rumor Scanner found evidence of the circulation of 492 pieces of misinformation involving the armed forces and law enforcement agencies in the country last year. Among these, the highest number, 219 pieces of misinformation, were circulated involving the Bangladesh Army, which is an increase of approximately 126 percent compared to 2024. Rumor Scanner detected 69 pieces of misinformation (approximately 263 percent increase compared to before) regarding the force’s current Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

Additionally, last year saw the detection of 20 pieces of misinformation regarding the Air Force, including 4 involving Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, and 6 pieces regarding the Navy, including 4 involving Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan.

Aside from this, Rumor Scanner detected 133 pieces of misinformation regarding the Bangladesh Police (approximately 166 percent increase compared to before), 2 regarding Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, 7 involving DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, 9 regarding the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 13 regarding Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and 1 regarding the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party.

Last year, Rumor Scanner detected 68 pieces of misinformation spreading in the country’s sports arena. Analyzing the misinformation in the sports arena, it was found that Shakib Al Hasan was the most frequent victim of this misinformation. Tamim Iqbal and Hamza Choudhury are in the next two positions, respectively.

Rumors and ambiguity are always present regarding various issues in the entertainment world. Amidst this crowd, Rumor Scanner detected 170 pieces of misinformation circulated in 2025 surrounding the country’s entertainment and literary arena. Among them, small-screen actress Sadia Ayman was the victim of the most misinformation. Jointly in the next position are heroine Pori Moni and actress Tasnia Farin. Another actress, Azmeri Haque Badhon, is in the third position.

Misinformation accompanied various issues

Last year, various mediums of the internet were heated at times with various issues in the country. Out of the 43 issues recorded by Rumor Scanner, 20 were political. Among these issues, the highest dissemination of disinformation was observed in the flow of events regarding the shooting of Osman Hadi in December and his subsequent death while undergoing treatment. Other issues where over fifty pieces of disinformation were detected included the Awami League’s lockdown on November 13 and the DUCSU election in September.

Beyond politics, the flow of misinformation was observed last year regarding national issues, natural disasters, sports, religion, and various other issues. In total, Rumor Scanner detected 796 pieces of misinformation across 43 issues in the country last year.

Indians in communal disinformation

Communal misinformation is becoming a cause for concern regarding religious matters. The dissemination of communal disinformation centering on Bangladesh has been a topic of discussion for the past several months. In 2025, Rumor Scanner detected 165 pieces of communal disinformation. Among these, evidence was found in 94 incidents where disinformation was circulated from accounts and pages bearing Indian identities on social media. Not just communal disinformation, but the dissemination of disinformation involving Bangladesh in various events is regularly ongoing in Indian media. In 2025, Rumor Scanner observed the dissemination of disinformation involving Bangladesh in 36 news reports broadcast by Indian media.

Worries over AI-Deepfakes and Fake Media Photocards

Continuing from 2024, the propagation and spread of misinformation through the manipulation of Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake technology were quite noticeable last year as well. Last year, a total of 606 pieces of misinformation were detected, including 86 Deepfake videos, where the use of AI technology was observed; this is approximately 409 percent higher than the previous year.

Using media names, logos, headlines, and fake/imitation photocards, 744 pieces of misinformation were circulated in 687 incidents involving 75 domestic and foreign news outlets in 2025. That is, on average, attempts were made to confuse people by implicating media outlets in the dissemination of more than two pieces of misinformation daily. In 2024, this number was 505. The list of media outlets most implicated using this method last year includes the Daily Amar Desh (106), Jamuna TV (89), and the Daily Kaler Kantho (78).

Methodology

This statistic has been published based on the reports published on the Rumor Scanner website from January to December of 2025. For the purpose of publishing statistics, data and information from every report over the last 12 months were regularly collected and documented. Subsequently, the data and information were analyzed. This data was compared with the data of the current year (previous year context), 2024. Later, they were presented through infographics and writing.