Digitally Right’s ongoing project Strengthening Resilience Against Disinformation aims to address Bangladesh’s escalating disinformation crisis during a critical political transition. Following the fall of the long-standing Awami League government and amid rising political uncertainty ahead of national elections, the country has witnessed a sharp surge in politically and communally charged disinformation. This initiative tackles these challenges through a blend of research, collaboration, and targeted interventions.
The project focuses on three key activities: producing high-quality research to inform policy responses, strengthening coordination among fact-checkers through a National Fact-Checkers Convening, and publishing timely trend analysis and fact-check articles to monitor evolving disinformation narratives.
In its first quarter, the project successfully initiated its flagship research component—conducting key informant interviews and finalizing participants for a focus group discussion. The team also published a trend analysis titled Misinformation Trends and Narratives in Bangladesh’s Tumultuous 2024, and produced 21 fact-check reports that were featured in 33 media outlets.
Preparations for the upcoming national convening of fact-checkers in April 2025 are underway, aiming to unify Bangladesh’s fragmented verification landscape ahead of the elections. Despite challenges like limited access to sources, gender imbalance in the fact-checking space, and technical barriers, the initiative is helping build a more informed and collaborative response to disinformation.
All research and fact-checking outputs are published via Dismislab, enhancing public awareness and media literacy while reinforcing the country’s digital information integrity.
