Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 19: Indian intelligence agencies have flagged a rapid and coordinated online disinformation campaign that followed the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in Bangladesh’s student movement. Officials say social media accounts allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) swung into action almost immediately, circulating misleading narratives that later contributed to widespread violence.
According to agency assessments, a large network of ISI-supported online handles flooded platforms with false claims, many of them sharply critical of India. Investigators believe the campaign was designed to inflame public sentiment and push Bangladesh into a phase of sustained instability.
Officials point out that the strategy mirrors earlier unrest that culminated in the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They say the current turmoil was not spontaneous but the result of careful planning, with instructions reportedly issued to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islamic Chhatra Shibir (ICS), to avoid taking overt leadership roles in the agitation.
Instead, the plan allegedly relied on Pakistan-based digital networks to manufacture and amplify provocative narratives. Jamaat and allied groups were expected to exploit this online propaganda on the ground, escalating tensions without appearing to be at the forefront. The intent, officials claim, was to ensure that even if elections were held in February, Jamaat would not be blamed as the principal instigator of the unrest.
In the weeks leading up to the violence, agencies say multiple radical groups under ISI influence were activated across Bangladesh. These groups were often seen leading confrontations, while Jamaat and its student affiliates operated from behind the scenes, directing events indirectly.
While the overall strategy was crafted by the ISI, officials stress that Pakistan’s digital ecosystem played a decisive role. This included websites and media platforms allegedly funded from across the border, which published articles pushing a consistent narrative that portrayed India as the chief backer of Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina, the Awami League leader who was removed from power last August, fled Bangladesh and has since been living in India, a fact that featured prominently in these reports.
Security officials describe the developments as part of Pakistan’s long-term effort to expand its influence in Bangladesh. They warn that continued violence and the spread of anti-India sentiment have kept the country on edge, adding strategic pressure along India’s eastern boundary.
Agencies also believe that the campaign seeks to target sections of Bangladeshi society that oppose extremism, with the aim of reshaping the country’s internal dynamics along lines similar to those seen in Pakistan.
Experts caution that such proxy operations allow Pakistan to destabilize neighbors at minimal cost. By quietly encouraging unrest through affiliated groups, public anger can be allowed to spiral into large-scale violence once crowds are mobilized.
Analysts warn that the stakes for Bangladesh are high. Prolonged instability could derail the electoral process altogether, opening the door to deeper fragmentation. If elections are delayed or abandoned, officials fear the next phase could involve fostering separatist elements, drawing parallels with past developments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Should these efforts succeed, experts say Bangladesh’s situation could deteriorate further. In that scenario, radical Islamist groups may move closer to achieving their long-standing objective of transforming the country into an Islamic state, a senior official cautioned.