BNP Backs EC-Bound Fact-Checking Cell to Battle Bogus Online Content

The BNP has proposed forming a separate fact-checking cell under the Election Commission (EC) to prevent online propaganda and misinformation.

On Wednesday afternoon, 19 November, BNP placed this proposal during the EC’s fourth day of dialogue with political parties, held at the conference room of the Election Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka. Mahdi Amin, Adviser to BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, presented the proposal. Emphasizing equal opportunities on online platforms just as on the physical campaign field, he recommended that the EC set up fact-checking units at both the central and upazila levels to counter false information, misinformation, defamation, and AI-driven propaganda on social media.

During the dialogue, Mahdi Amin said, “We are speaking about the EC’s responsibility to ensure a level playing field. This is crucial not only on the streets or in election administration but even more so online. Over the last year, we have seen a significant rise in cyber security issues, cyberbullying, and cyberattacks. There are character assassinations and disinformation campaigns. Using Artificial Intelligence, many kinds of propaganda are being conducted against candidates and political parties.”

Proposing fact-checking units at both central and upazila levels, he added, “Any victim—candidate or party—will be able to lodge complaints with the Upazila Assistant Returning Officer. They may also file complaints at the EC headquarters.”

Referring to the targeted online harassment of women politicians, Mahdi Amin said, “It is possible to request Facebook and YouTube to remove verified misinformation and defamatory content. Alongside these platforms, our internal resources—NTMC, mobile operators, police’s Detective Branch, PIB, CID—can also play a role in this regard.”

Notably, ahead of the national election, the EC is holding a series of dialogues with political parties. As part of this initiative, on Wednesday (19 November), the EC held meetings with the BNP, Nagorik Oikya, Gana Adhikar Parishad, BASAD (Marxist), and the Republican Party. During the dialogue, the BNP proposed that the responsibilities of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers be assigned to EC’s own officials.

The BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, also included the party’s Law Affairs Secretary Kaiser Kamal and former Secretary Md. Zakaria.

DBTech/BS/Muim/OR