Bangladesh polls enter danger zone as deepfakes, violence feared and anti-India narrative surges
New Delhi – Dec 10 (LatestNewsX): The political scene in Bangladesh is still in flux as the country readies for a pivotal vote in February. With the mood shifting rapidly, there isn’t yet a clear frontrunner, and the balance of power is constantly shifting.
Indian intelligence outfits are monitoring the situation closely. A wealth of reports warns that the upcoming polls could be plagued by violence and a wide‑scale misinformation drive.
Bangladesh’s Election Commission is attempting to mitigate these risks, yet the Indian diplomatic corps anticipates the problems will worsen as the election day approaches. They point out that foreign influence, AI‑generated content, and deepfakes pose serious threats to the electoral process.
Beyond Bangladesh, India itself faces concerns. Numerous fake videos circulating online accuse India of meddling in its neighbours’ elections—content reportedly produced by ISI‑aligned elements. One Indian official stressed the urgency of countering these narratives and highlighted threats aimed at destabilizing the northeastern states.
These destabilizing actors are reportedly targeting the Northeast with fabricated information. This issue has been a point of frustration since caretaker prime minister Mohammad Yunus raised it during a meeting with Chinese diplomats.
In Bangladesh, certain parties appear determined to stoke anti‑India sentiment among voters—a tactic reminiscent of strategies seen in Pakistan.
Compounding the situation, the ISI is actively pushing for a Jamaat‑e‑Islami victory. Watchers say the agency prefers a coalition involving Jamaat and Yunus in a governing role, while sidelining other forces.
Initial opinion polls largely favoured the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); however, recent surveys suggest the Jamaat is now the close second choice. Meanwhile, a pre‑election analysis by the International Republican Institute (IRI) indicates that support for the Awami League has collapsed. An unexpected trend in these polls is that a majority of respondents are content with Yunus’s performance.
As public opinion swings, Indian analysts say Bangladesh’s main task is to confront the fabricated narratives being pumped into the electorate. Attempts at voter suppression have also surfaced. For instance, two independent aspirants—Beauty Begum and Abdullah Nahid—had to confirm they were still running after a deepfake video falsely claimed they had withdrawn their nominations.
Even high‑profile figures are not immune. A deepfake clip purporting to show BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman urged voters not to criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza, clearly designed to tarnish his reputation ahead of a Muslim‑majority vote. Additional deepfakes have shown law‑enforcement officials encouraging an election boycott and called for attacks on opposition leaders.
Indian officials note that Bangladesh lacks robust mechanisms to tackle this challenge. Digital literacy remains low, and fact‑checking units move slowly, resulting in delayed takedowns.
In response, the Election Commission has announced the creation of a central cell dedicated to combating AI‑generated misinformation and disinformation during the upcoming national polls.
Intelligence agencies across the region are keeping a close watch, warning that manipulated elections could have far‑reaching consequences. They also highlight that, leading up to the vote, deepfake videos are being circulated with the intention of causing trouble in India, particularly the Northeast.
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