Proliferation of incorrect or deceptive information has been a cause for concern for democracy in Bangladesh. From the period before the 12th parliamentary election took place in January 2024, the country has been faced with an upsurge in such activities.

Although the government secured a landslide victory in elections, there have been continuing and resolute attempts to damage its reputation, both within the country and on the global stage. To protect the country’s democratic spirit and international reputation, the government should pursue a robust and broad strategy to tackle the continuing threat.

Misinformation and disinformation are not trivial issues; they can be powerful tools of intimidation, and desolation, allowing mass deception and causing social unrest while simultaneously degrading the credibility of government. Certain groups assisted by opposing political parties in Bangladesh are using similar tactics to delegitimise the government and undermine the credibility of the elections.

Given that the country held an election a few months ago, any sense of instability can have significant repercussions on the government's performance. Since they have been unable to sabotage the election itself, these factions have now resorted to a broader assault of defamation, targeting to damage the government’s reputation and credibility.

The deliberate spread of false information began as a strategy to disrupt the election and cast doubt on the new government’s authority. The measures were ineffective in stopping the election, but the attempts to erode the new regime’s trustworthiness have persisted. This campaign utilises and takes advantage of the swift distribution capabilities of social media and digital platforms and extensively propagates false information.

Thus, there is an urgent necessity to control this trend. The government should stress more on the enforcement of the law and enacting regulations that will help to contain the emission of false information.

Though the government enacted the Digital Security Act sometime back, it is imperative to thoroughly evaluate and enhance the legislation to efficiently discourage and punish intentional dissemination of false information.

At the same time, the government should perform the task with caution to prevent any violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and press, which are vital elements of a robust democracy. Efficient regulations should focus on addressing detrimental content while safeguarding genuine expression and discussion.

There is a need to simultaneously advance the level of digital literacy of the common people. The well-informed and vigilant public is the utmost guarantee against misinformation or disinformation. Awareness-building initiatives which concentrate on teaching people how to find out the reliability of sources, identifying bias, and confirming facts can empower citizens in this regard.

Partnerships with educational institutions, civil society groups, and foreign collaborators can enhance the scope and effectiveness of these efforts.

Both government transparency and proactive communication are of equal importance. The government may build public trust and refute misleading narratives by continuously offering transparent, precise, and easily understandable information regarding its policies and accomplishments. Regular reporting on what the government is doing opens avenues for people to get information about the activities.

This can help overcome confusion and bridge the gap between the authorities and the government. This will be a great step towards legitimacy and assurance.

Strategic diplomacy can be an important area of intervention in resisting disinformation that hurts the country's image in the international arena. Foreign media should be engaged positively, relations with diplomatic missions should be established, and collaboration with international technology companies must be developed to resist false narratives and display the authentic image of Bangladesh.

Engaging actively in international forums focused on information integrity and collaborating with other nations grappling with similar difficulties may enhance and strengthen these endeavours.

Nevertheless, the government cannot single-handedly combat the spread of falsehood. It necessitates a collaborative endeavour from many sectors of society. Media organisations are required to uphold stringent standards of journalism, emphasising verifying facts and doing ethical reporting.

Civil society can act as a vigilant observer, pushing for truth and ensuring that all parties are held responsible. Technology businesses in the private sector play a vital role in detecting and eliminating misleading material on their platforms, as well as fostering digital literacy among their users.

An integral aspect of this collective endeavour entails augmenting public consciousness regarding the perils of misinformation. Public awareness initiatives aimed at educating individuals about the consequences of misinformation and the significance of discerning thinking can foster a society that is more informed and more resilient.

Promoting active participation in civic affairs and open communication may help cultivate an environment of openness and shared confidence, thus enhancing the democratic framework of the country.

Ultimately, Bangladesh continues to face a significant obstacle in combating the dissemination of false and misleading information, despite effectively guiding the country in the path of development.

Thorough and coordinated efforts are required to counter the ongoing attempts to undermine the government's credibility. The government may successfully address this misinformation by fortifying legislative frameworks, improving digital literacy, aggressively connecting with the people, and participating in smart foreign diplomacy. All sectors of society need to come together for this fight. A reliable and powerful information system should be set up that will ensure transparency, and truthfulness that will guarantee our progress.
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The writer is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Rajshahi