SACMID has been monitoring fake news, fact-checked by different websites, since November 1, 2023, after developing a monitoring tool. In the month of January 2024, SACMID monitored 397 cases of false information in Bangladesh from 5 fact-checking websites: Rumor Scanner, Fact Watch, Boom Bangladesh, Dismislab, and Ajker Patrika. Among these, Rumor Scanner was the most active fact-checking website, identifying 223 instances of mis-/disinformation and rumor while revealing the facts behind them. There were 62 fact-checks covered by Fact Watch and 53 by Boom Bangladesh. Ajker Patrika also made a substantial contribution by covering 46 fact-checks.
Since it was the month of the 12th National Election, 44% of the false news or rumors were about Politics & Election, 18% were National, and 7% were International news. Apart from these subjects, the majority of other fake news is about sports, 9%, entrainment, 8% and education, 6%.
Out of the 397 fake news stories, SACMID selected a single, notable fact check from Rumour Scanner, which was released on January 29, 2024.
The news is: প্রধানমন্ত্রী ক্ষমা চেয়ে তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকারের অধীনে পুনরায় নির্বাচনের ঘোষণা দেননি