MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION: IMPACT ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS (CHT)
Keywords:
The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Misinformation , Disinformation , Peace , SecurityAbstract
Inconsistencies in reporting-truths mixed with lies, partial truths, one-sided accounts, and outright fabrications-have long shaped narratives of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) incidents, influencing perceptions, deepening mistrust, and obstructing peace consolidation, particularly where relations between Bengalis and ethnic minorities remain fragile. This study examines how misinformation and disinformation continue to undermine peace and human security in the CHT in the post-Accord period. An exploratory qualitative approach was adopted, analyzing key incidents and patterns of problematic information. Findings suggest that misinformation and disinformation not only intensified insecurity during episodes of communal strife but also contributed to the continued fragility of peace after the insurgency. The study argues that equal emphasis must be placed on both the “protection of people” and “empowerment of people” dimensions of the human security framework to counter these challenges.
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