FOLLOWING the student-led protests, the mass uprising and the prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 exit on August 5, Indian mainstream media and social media have circulated false claims of rising persecution against the religious minority, the Hindu community, in Bangladesh. The reports, frequently accompanied by misleading footage, misrepresent the situation and escalate risks for Bangladeshi Hindus. The coverage of alleged attacks, vandalism and persecution, often linked to conspiracy theories involving the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir alliance and even the Pakistani ISI, has intensified the crisis. While these reports might appear to champion the cause of a vulnerable community, they are, in reality, exacerbating the situation for the Hindus in Bangladesh, feeding into a dangerous cycle of fear, violence and marginalisation.
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Power of misinformation
THE media play an influential role in shaping public perception, setting agendas and framing narratives. When stories about attacks on the Hindus in Bangladesh are amplified without proper verification, they create an exaggerated sense of danger. This framing not only inflames communal tension in India but also paints a distorted picture of the reality on the ground in Bangladesh. Misinformation, particularly when it involves sensational claims of violence, spreads rapidly. It creates a moral panic, a term coined by sociologist Stanley Cohen, where society overreacts to a perceived threat.
In this case, the exaggerated portrayal of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh stirs up fears within the community and beyond. Such a state not only heightens anxiety but also sets the stage for actual violence. As social learning theory suggests that people often imitate behaviours that they observe, especially when those behaviours are portrayed as justified or necessary. In this context, reports of vandalism and attacks may prompt copycat incidents as individuals or groups might feel motivated to emulate such acts either to undermine the spirit of the mass uprising or for personal gains.
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Self-fulfilling prophecy of violence
THE dissemination of misinformation does more than merely distort perceptions. It actively exacerbates the situation. The portrayal of the Hindus in Bangladesh as persistently under threat creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Increased belief in such threats correlates with a heightened likelihood of actual violence. This dynamic is further explained by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann鈥檚 鈥榮piral of silence鈥� theory, which asserts that those who might oppose such violence remain silent for fear of social exclusion. Concurrently, supporters or perpetrators of violence are empowered, believing their actions are part of a larger, justified agenda.
This cycle of action and reaction leads to an escalation of violence. The initial misinformation about attacks and vandalism catalyses more incidents, which are then reported and sensationalised, leading to further violence. The media, in this case, are not merely reporting on violence. They are helping to create and perpetuate it.
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Role of conspiracy theories
SEVERAL reports from Bangladesh indicate that in numerous instances, attacks on the Hindus across the country may have been orchestrated by factions within the former ruling Awami League. The dissemination of conspiracy theories that implicate groups such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Shibir and Hefazat serves to obscure the perpetrators, thereby impeding the pursuit of justice. These narratives effectively deflect attention away from the perpetrators, obstructing accountability and maintaining the existing power dynamics.
This strategic misdirection complicates the pursuit of justice and diverts attention from internal issues and political rivalries that may be fuelling the violence. Consequently, the propagation of such conspiracy theories acts as a deliberate tactic to obscure the sources of communal discord, thereby reinforcing entrenched power structures. As a result, individuals, regardless of their political affiliations, who have forcibly seized Hindu property or engaged in vandalism may evade punishment and escape justice as conspiracy theories deflect scrutiny and accountability from their actions.
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Impact on Bangladeshi Hindus
THE consequences of misinformation and propaganda for Hindus in Bangladesh are significant and far-reaching. The persistent portrayal of the Hindu community as perpetual victims in Indian media not only exacerbates their marginalisation but also aligns them with foreign interests, thereby hindering their integration into broader Bangladeshi society. This enforced isolation increases their vulnerability, rendering them more susceptible to actual physical attacks. Consequently, this dynamic creates a pernicious cycle in which the perceived threat of violence incites further violence, thereby intensifying the risks faced by the community. This creates a vicious cycle where the perception of violence leads to more violence, further endangering the community.
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Poorest Hindus: most exploited victims
WHEN attacks are misrepresented as being solely the work of external groups or political adversaries, it masks the reality that such violence often stems from local power struggles and economic motives. The powerful class, specifically when it is the religious majority, benefits from this misdirection as it prevents the poor and disenfranchised from uniting against their common oppressors. By focusing public attention on external conspiracies, the real issues of land grabs, economic disenfranchisement and the exploitation of the poorest Hindus are pushed aside.
This not only perpetuates the cycle of violence but also ensures that the status quo remains unchallenged, with the powerful continuing to exert control over the most vulnerable sections of society. The poorest class in this community, who lack economic and political power, is even more vulnerable to exploitation by local power, often powerful Muslims who may forcibly acquire their houses, land or shops. These actions are not merely acts of communal violence but are deeply rooted in class relations where the economically weaker, and certainly the religious minority, section is systematically oppressed by those with more wealth and influence.
In this view, conspiracy theories serve as a tool for the ruling class to maintain their dominance, preventing the poorest class from raising their voices against the injustice that they face. Without the power to fight back or demand justice, these marginalised communities remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence, their plight hidden behind a smokescreen of political and communal narratives that benefit the politically and economically powerful class.
The role of Indian media in disseminating misinformation about attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh is profoundly problematic and hazardous in several aspects. By sensationalising and exaggerating these incidents, the media perpetuate a cycle of violence and fear that exacerbates the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. The introduction of conspiracy theories further intensifies this issue, from local concern, and reinforces a broader narrative of external threats. Ultimately, this tactic advances the interests of political agendas while further isolating and endangering the community.
As consumers of news, it is crucial to critically evaluate such reports and advocate for responsible journalism that prioritises factual accuracy over sensationalism. The safety and security of any community must not be compromised for the sake of headline-driven narratives.
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Tina Nandi is a Bangladeshi broadcast journalist currently admitted into the Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies Program at Columbia University, New York. Tina Nandi is a former journalist.
