Rumours and the news cycle: How lies travelled faster than facts

In Bangladesh's media landscape, rumours and misinformation are no longer a side issue. In 2025, it became a part of the daily news cycle. 

Rumours moved quickly from social media into public discussion this year, sometimes forcing responses from the government, security forces, journalists, and fact-checkers. 

Where rumours origin

Most rumours in 2025 began on social media platforms, particularly Facebook. According to a report of fact-checker organisation Rumor Scanner, the majority of false claims were found on Facebook, followed by X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok. These platforms allow posts to spread fast and without verification.

Many of the posts did not include new information. Old photos, recycled videos, and edited screenshots were commonly used. A dramatic or alarming caption would be added, linking the content to current political or social issues. Once shared by a few popular pages or accounts, the posts often spread widely within hours.

Messaging apps such as WhatsApp also played a role, especially in closed groups where fact-checking was rare and corrections spread slowly.

Political rumours and fake statements

Politics was the biggest source of misinformation in 2025. A large share of misinformation debunked by Rumor Scanner and other fact-checker organisations, such as Dismislab, were related to political leaders, parties, or government decisions.

One common type of rumour involved fake statements attributed to political figures. Social media users shared posts claiming that senior politicians had resigned, been arrested, or made major policy decisions. These claims were often supported by screenshots designed to look like official notices or news photo cards.

In many cases, these images were entirely fabricated. Fact-checkers had to later confirm that no such statements had been made and that the media logos used in the screenshots were fake. Rumor Scanner and Dismislab documented numerous examples where the name and branding of well-known outlets such as Prothom Alo or Jamuna TV were misused to give false news an appearance of credibility.

Military and security-related misinformation

Another sensitive area was national security. Throughout the year, social media users repeatedly shared rumours claiming that the military was preparing to intervene in politics or impose martial law. Some posts suggested that a coup was imminent, while others claimed it had already happened.

These rumours spread quickly because they played on fear and uncertainty. In several instances, the Bangladesh Army publicly denied such claims and warned people not to trust unverified content circulating online. Fact-checkers confirmed that videos used to support these claims were often taken from old training exercises or unrelated events.

Despite official denials, similar rumours returned again and again, as it is difficult to fully stop false narratives once they gained attention.

Misused videos and communal tension

Videos were among the most powerful tools for spreading misinformation. Many viral clips in 2025 showed violence, crowds, or disorder, accompanied by captions claiming they depicted fresh unrest in Bangladesh.

In several cases, videos were shared as evidence of attacks on minority communities or large-scale communal violence. Fact-checkers later showed that these clips were taken from unrelated incidents, sometimes from previous years or even from other countries. Such mislabelled videos were used to inflame emotions and spread fear.

Because videos feel more "real" than text, many viewers accepted the claims without questioning their source. By the time corrections were published, the original posts had often already reached large audiences.

When real events fuel false stories

Misinformation did not exist separately from real news. Instead, it often fed on genuine events. When protests, clashes, or political developments occurred, false stories quickly appeared alongside accurate reporting.

In December, for example, after the killing of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi, social media was flooded with exaggerated claims, false accusations, and conspiracy theories that instigated violence. A blending of truth and falsehood makes it harder for the public to distinguish between verified information and rumour.

Why rumours spread so fast

Several factors helped misinformation spread easily in Bangladesh in 2025. Political uncertainty made people more receptive to dramatic claims. Emotional content, especially fear, anger, or outrage, traveled faster than calm explanations. Trust also played a role as many users believed information shared by friends or family more than official statements.

Technology mattered too. Basic editing tools made it easy to create fake headlines and misleading visuals. Social media algorithms rewarded engagement, pushing popular posts to even more users, regardless of accuracy.

Meanwhile, not all misinformation came from political motives. Some posts seemed designed simply to attract attention. Sensational claims, shocking images, or emotionally charged language often generated more likes and shares. Social media platforms rewarded this engagement, helping false content spread faster than corrections. By the time a fact-check appeared, the original rumour had often already reached a wide audience.

The role of mainstream media

Mainstream media played a mixed role in the misinformation cycle. On one hand, newspapers and television channels regularly reported on fact-checking findings and helped debunk false claims.

On the other hand, the pressure to report quickly sometimes meant that unverified claims were mentioned before being fully checked. Social media rumours increasingly influenced what audiences expected journalists to report on.

Ignoring viral rumours entirely risked leaving people confused but reporting on them risked amplifying falsehoods. This tension became a constant challenge for newsrooms in 2025.

Impact beyond our screens

The effects of misinformation were not limited to online debates. Rumours often influenced public mood, increased anxiety, and deepened mistrust in institutions. In some cases, false claims forced authorities to respond publicly to events that never happened.

The spread of misinformation is not merely digital noise. Rumours about unrest, elections, and social tensions influence public sentiment, strained trust in institutions, and sometimes clashed with factual reporting. In several cases, false narratives fueled suspicion, violence and widened social divides — complicating efforts by journalists, fact-checkers, and civic leaders to foster informed debate.

In Bangladesh this year, false information did not replace mainstream news, but we have to admit that it ran alongside it, shaping how people understood politics, protests, security, diplomacy and social tensions.

By the end of 2025, it became clear that misinformation had become a permanent feature of Bangladesh's information landscape. Countering rumours would require more than corrections. It would need public awareness, stronger media literacy, and responsible sharing by users themselves.