A regime-aligned “fact-checking” platform in Bangladesh has ignited fresh controversy by accusing 73 Indian media outlets of spreading “fake news” about the country – an extraordinary claim that has triggered concerns over media intimidation, political narrative control, and Dhaka’s increasingly adversarial posture toward critical scrutiny. The report, released amid Bangladesh’s post-2024 political realignment under Muhammad Yunus, raises uncomfortable questions about who defines truth in a climate where dissenting voices – both domestic and international – are being systematically challenged.

The sweeping nature of the accusation, the political timing, and the identity of the regime backing this “fact-checker” raise serious questions – not merely about press freedom, but about the credibility of a government that increasingly appears intolerant of scrutiny while projecting itself as the sole arbiter of truth.

The report asserts: “The trend of misinformation originating from Indian sources concerning Bangladesh is taking an increasingly alarming shape. In 2025, Rumor Scanner found evidence of at least 155 instances of misinformation about Bangladesh being spread across various Indian media outlets and social media platforms, which is nearly 5 percent higher than the previous year”.

This statement, presented without transparent methodology, independent verification, or contextual analysis, is used to justify a blanket denunciation of Indian journalism – an extraordinary move that risks inflaming bilateral tensions while undermining journalistic norms.

The list of Indian outlets accused of disseminating “fake news” is astonishing both in scale and diversity. It includes prominent national platforms such as Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, FirstPost, The Tribune, NDTV, India Today, CNN-News18, Republic World, Zee News, The Tribune, The Statesman, Times Now, and Asian News International (ANI).

Regional and language-specific outlets have also been named, including Aaj Tak Bangla, Republic Bangla, Zee-24 Ghanta, ABP Ananda, Ananda Bazar Patrika, Ey Somoy, Kolkata TV, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran, Lokmat Times, Mirror Now, Punjab Kesari, Rising........

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