We ought to be alarmed by the recent confirmation from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police that a viral photo of Sharif Osman Hadi’s grave was fabricated and realize how misinformation and disinformation continues to be an issue that we must treat with the utmost seriousness.
Indeed, in recent times, it is the weaponization of misinformation and disinformation in our public sphere that has increased exponentially, and with less than two months before what could be the most critical national election in this country’s history, the stakes could not be higher.
Elections depend on trust, especially in the information citizens use to make decisions. When falsehoods spread unchecked, they corrode trust and replace it with confusion and anger.
The result is further polarization and at a time when political tensions are already running high, disinformation campaigns can all but distort the necessary democratic processes.
Both misinformation – false content shared without intent to harm – and disinformation – deliberately fabricated narratives – cause harm, with one being more insidious and designed to manipulate opinion, delegitimize institutions, and fracture civic unity.
We are living during extraordinary times, when lies can and often do travel faster than truth. At this juncture, complacency is simply not an option.
There is a greater need for investment in fact-checking, digital literacy, and watchdogs than ever before. Also important is accountability enforced against those who deliberately spread falsehoods and for our authorities to clearly communicate so that the space where rumours thrive are occupied by legitimate claims.
Fighting this scourge will need a concerted effort, where media outlets, the private and public sector, and all of civil society recognize the gravity of the issue and collaborate to debunk falsehoods, ensuring that we can safeguard not just the upcoming election but also our democratic future.
