Stand by Sovereignty
Exposing the narratives and digital threats targeting Bangladesh’s independence.
🏛️ The Foundation: 1971
Bangladesh’s sovereignty is not a gift; it was forged in the fire of the Liberation War. Before understanding the modern threat, we must ground ourselves in the verified cost of liberty. These figures represent the pillars of our national identity.
Documented Genocide
Systematic Violence
Targeted Erasure
The Scale of Displacement
The war triggered a massive humanitarian crisis. While 10 million people sought refuge across the border in India, an even larger number—30 million—were displaced internally, fleeing conflict zones within their own homeland.
Key Insight: The total displaced population exceeded 40 million, illustrating the total disruption of life during the 9-month struggle.
📡 The Modern Threat: Disinformation
The battlefield has shifted from physical borders to the digital realm. As we approach the 2026 electoral cycle, a coordinated wave of misinformation is weaponizing identity and history.
The 2024 Surge
Fact-checkers verified a drastic rise in false reports compared to the previous year.
Targeting Identity
Politics and communal identity are the primary vectors for division.
*20% of claims specifically target religious minorities.
The Weapon of Choice
Deepfakes and miscontextualized videos are preferred over text because they bypass critical thinking and trigger immediate emotional responses.
- ➤ High Shareability
- ➤ Emotional Resonance
- ➤ Harder to Fact-Check
Core Anti-Independence Narratives
Forces opposed to the spirit of 1971 utilize "alternative interpretations" to weaken the state. These are the three main lies they tell.
Rehabilitation of Collaborators
**The Tactic:** Reframing 1971 as a "Civil War" rather than a Genocide.
**The Goal:** To imply moral equivalence between oppressors and freedom fighters, thereby excusing the atrocities of Razakars.
Sovereignty Surrender Myth
**The Tactic:** Constantly claiming the country is being "sold" to foreign powers (often citing India).
**The Goal:** To trigger nationalist paranoia, destabilize diplomacy, and mobilize anger based on fear.
Institutional Cynicism
**The Tactic:** Portraying the Judiciary and Election Commission as fundamentally broken.
**The Goal:** To encourage civic disengagement. If citizens believe the system is hopeless, they stop defending it.
Strategic Recommendations for Defense
Safeguarding independence is a collective responsibility. Find your role below.
Lateral Reading
Don't react emotionally. Verify the source of a claim before sharing. Open new tabs to check if reputable sources report the same thing.
Verification Desks
Move away from "breaking news" speed. Establish dedicated desks to fact-check content before broadcast to ensure accuracy.
Pre-bunking
Map digital propaganda networks. Educate the public on manipulation techniques *before* they are targeted.
Unity Narratives
Harness digital native skills. Create content that celebrates pluralism and the true history of the Republic to counter hate.
Stand Firm. Expose the Lies.
Protect Our Sovereignty.