Even as different stakeholders work to bring stability to turbulence-hit Bangladesh, forces inimical to India have launched a disinformation campaign on social media alleging India’s role in the killings and temple vandalism following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s hasty departure.
India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team found thousands of posts on X (formerly Twitter), falsely accusing the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of committing violence in Bangladesh.
Many of the accounts participating in the drive were also part of an earlier social media campaign containing hashtags like #BoycottIndia.
Some of them identify themselves as Pakistani.
On the afternoon of August 5, PM Hasina resigned and fled Bangladesh in the face of growing violence in student-led protests. Hours later, around midnight, hundreds of shady accounts poured thousands of posts on X (formerly Twitter) accusing R&AW of killing hundreds of people in Bangladesh.
“#Bangladesh is facing a possible coup by India RAW. More than 250 people are dead. Did #ShiekhHasina sell the country to India..??!!” posted a user who flaunts the Pakistani flag in her username.
Many of the participants sought to blame R&AW operatives for vandalism of Hindu temples in Bangladesh to incite communal riots. They went on to claim that more than 30 operatives, dressed in the uniform of Bangladeshi security personnel, were arrested.
The narrative soon found its way into organic mainstream online conversation. Human rights activist Sabria Chowdhury Balland quoted @IntelPk_’s fake claim about the arrest of R&AW agents to say: “This point cannot be reiterated enough. RAW agents wear Bangladeshi military & police uniforms & commit atrocities in #Bangladesh.”
@sabriaballand was an active participant of an online campaign reported by India Today that called for the boycott of Indian goods and included insulting references to Indian culture.
COORDINATED CAMPAIGN
As per India Today’s analysis, about 1600 users published more than 22,000 posts carrying the keyword “Indian RAW” within a period of 24 hours. Over 10,500 posts were sent out between 1 am and 3 am on Tuesday, August 6.
Hours later, the disinformation agents launched the hashtag #Indian_Raw_attack_Dhaka and pushed about 11,000 X posts in just one hour ending 4 pm.
In the past, participants of this online campaign have promoted radical Islamic values, ridiculed Indians with derogatory names and references, and campaigned for Palestinians’ rights.
SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
Protesters stormed and looted the official residence of the Bangladesh PM after Hasina fled to India in a military transport aircraft. She has reportedly sought refuge in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh army has announced to take and form an interim government.
Protests erupted in Bangladesh in June against a job quota system, but continued despite a favourable Supreme Court order. Agitators started pressing for PM Hasina to step down.
