In the new battleground of Bangladeshi politics, the frontlines are not just on the streets – they are on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. And for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the war against online propaganda has become as critical as any rally or election campaign.
As the country inches toward a pivotal election, the BNP finds itself under a relentless digital assault. From AI-generated deepfakes to viral misinformation, the party claims it is being systematically smeared – accused of crimes it says it didn’t commit, linked to scandals it denies, and blamed for chaos it condemns.
“We’re not just fighting political opponents,” says Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP. “We’re fighting digital ghosts—videos that don’t exist, voices that aren’t real, and narratives that are manufactured.”
The deepfake dilemma
The problem is no longer just exaggeration it is fabrication.
In Chattogram, a video went viral showing a doctor claiming he was extorted by BNP men. The footage spread like wildfire. But Rizvi says the truth was far different: “We investigated immediately. The doctor had his nose painted, went live, and started accusing BNP leaders. The issue was about illegal construction, not extortion. No one attacked him. Yet the video was used to paint us as criminals.”
This is no isolated case. Party leaders say AI technology is being used to create fake videos of BNP figures involved in violence, corruption, or moral misconduct – then shared across platforms like Facebook and YouTube, often with no fact-checking.
“AI can now make someone say things they never said,” warns Md. Nazmul Hasan, Central Organizing Secretary of the Swechchhasebak Dal. “We’re introducing AI counter-tools to detect deepfakes and respond faster.”
Real incidents, amplified by propaganda
But the BNP also admits it is not always the victim of pure fiction. Real incidents involving party affiliates – like the Jashore sand-burial extortion case or the Mohakhali hotel raid led by a Juba Dal leader – are being used to fuel broader narratives of party-wide criminality.
“Such incidents create opportunities for propaganda,” admits Syed Zainul Abedin Mejbah, BNP’s Joint Law Affairs Secretary. “If the party had taken strong disciplinary action earlier, these stories wouldn’t have gained traction.”
Selimuzzaman Selim, BNP joint organising secretary, adds: “In the Sohag murder case at Mitford, propaganda linked us immediately. We expelled some people. Later, we found they weren’t involved. We need to investigate first, then act – otherwise, we play into the hands of those spreading lies.”
A party waking up to the digital age
For years, the BNP was seen as digitally dormant, relying on street politics while rivals dominated the online space. But that’s changing.
“We were a little absent, a little indifferent on social media,” admits Nurul Islam Nayan, General Secretary of Juba Dal’s central committee. “Now, discussions are underway. We’re pushing back with the truth.”
The party is now building a cyber cell staffed with tech-savvy youth, expanding its media cell, and strengthening the Bangladesh Nationalist Research Centre (BNRC). At the district level, digital units are being formed to monitor, respond, and create content.
“We don’t fight propaganda with propaganda,” says Shairul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member. “We respond with facts, press conferences, and official statements. Our policy is to present the truth, not to spread rumours.”
Leaders speak up and speak out
On the ground, a new generation of BNP leaders is taking to social media with confidence.
“We are technology-conscious,” says Abdul Halim, Dhaka Metropolitan North Chhatra Dal leader. “Our activists are on the streets and on social media. We’re trying to present the real picture.”
Others are more defiant.
“Lies are still lies,” says Aminul Haque, BNP Convener for Dhaka-16. “If any of our leaders do something wrong, we have no system to protect them. But truth cannot be buried under lies.”
Adds Sultan Salauddin Tuku, BNP Publicity Secretary: “Propaganda causes temporary damage. But we respond with positive action, and the people see through the noise.”
The bigger picture: A divided society, a digital war
BNP leaders say the propaganda is not just political, it is systemic.
“Both the allies of the fallen regime and anti-liberation forces are active online,” says Selimuzzaman Selim. “They want to destabilise the opposition.”
Begum Selima Rahman, Standing Committee member, puts it bluntly: “Propaganda thrives in chaos. Society is restless. No one listens. In this environment, we must be doubly vigilant – and doubly truthful.”
Even Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu acknowledges the challenge: “If propaganda could destroy BNP, Sheikh Hasina would have done it in 15 years. We’ve survived worse. We’re moving forward—with propaganda, and in spite of it.”
The road ahead: Truth, tech, and trust
The BNP’s digital strategy is no longer reactive, it is becoming proactive. From AI detection to youth-led content creation, the party is adapting to a new era of perception politics.
But the real battle isn’t just about winning online arguments. It’s about rebuilding trust in a media landscape where seeing is no longer believing.
As one BNP leader put it: “We can’t stop the lies. But we can make sure the truth has a voice.”
And in the age of deepfakes and digital warfare, that voice may be the party’s most powerful weapon.