Rumors and misinformation are increasingly shaping the electoral landscape, turning the “voting field” into a battleground of information warfare alongside traditional posters, processions, and public rallies.
The misuse of technology to spread information and disinformation to undermine opponents has become an almost equally powerful weapon in what many describe as a “vote war.” Claims, allegations, panic, and rumors are spreading rapidly across social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook posts, WhatsApp messages, and Facebook Live broadcasts.
In many cases, the objective is to create confusion, intimidate voters, or provide an advantage to a particular side. At times, even genuine incidents are dismissed as being “AI-generated.”
Technology experts warn that voters, candidates, and all those involved in the election process must remain highly vigilant to maintain law and order and reduce the risk of violence.
How rumors spread
Fake “breaking news” photo cards are being created using the names and logos of established media outlets and circulated from Facebook Live sessions or fake accounts. Old videos are being presented as recent events, images from other countries are being passed off as scenes from Bangladesh, and conspiracy theories about ballots are being propagated — all of which have become common tactics.
Baseless claims are also being spread, including allegations of printing extra ballots in favor of a specific party, preparing pre-stamped ballots, and stockpiling ballots marked for the “Yes” vote.
Panic-inducing posts such as “voting suspended at a certain center,” “violence has started,” “several killed,” and “army deployed” often go viral within moments.
Digital security analysts say it takes less than five minutes to spread a rumor, but hours to debunk it. By then, the situation may already have become unstable.
Who is behind it
According to those concerned, biased activists and supporters, bot networks, foreign or organized propaganda groups, and some YouTube channels seeking views and virality deliberately spread misleading content. The goal is often to suppress voter turnout or influence specific groups.
Government monitoring
Authorities have taken various initiatives to prevent the spread of rumors. The Ministry of Home Affairs, police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), armed forces, and other agencies have established separate monitoring cells.
Last November, ahead of the national election, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) formed a special cell to combat fake information and rumors. In coordination with multiple agencies, the cell is conducting round-the-clock monitoring of online and social media platforms and carrying out fact-checking activities.
Call for caution
Tanvir Hasan Zoha, a prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal and a digital forensic expert, told Dhaka Tribune that rumors can be the biggest source of instability during elections. He urged people not to share any news or posts without verification.
Zoha noted that images, videos, or audio circulated on social media are often old or edited, creating confusion. Any information related to violence, vote rigging, or the law-and-order situation should be verified through reliable news outlets or official Election Commission sources, he said.
He also advised against downloading messages or applications sent from unknown numbers or suspicious links, warning that these may pose risks of personal data theft or device hacking.
Urging citizens to report rumors or misleading information to local administration or relevant authorities instead of spreading them, Zoha said responsible behavior by aware citizens is essential to ensuring a peaceful and fair election.