Sheikh Hasina deepfake video — Nov 2026

A series of AI-generated videos featuring fabricated military and police personnel has circulated widely on Facebook, falsely claiming that the armed forces intend to facilitate the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. These videos, which have collectively garnered over 11.8 million views, depict individuals in uniform making political promises and staging fictional interactions with citizens to promote narratives regarding Hasina's reinstatement.

What happened

Beginning in early October 2026, 84 Facebook posts were identified featuring AI-synthesized representations of army, police, air force, and navy personnel. The content includes fabricated officers promising to bring Hasina back from India by December 2026, asserting she remains the legitimate prime minister, and suggesting the possibility of an imminent military takeover. Some videos feature staged exchanges, such as a purported farmer or schoolgirl asking an officer to bring Hasina back, while others show senior officers issuing instructions regarding her return.

Analysis of the posts revealed that 61 promoted narratives about Hasina's return, 11 suggested a military takeover, and others expressed regret over the armed forces' role during the July uprising. Despite Meta’s stated policies regarding the labeling of AI-generated content and deceptive impersonation, the examined videos lacked visible AI disclosures. The Bangladesh Police Headquarters has officially warned that these videos do not represent the force's position and cautioned that legal action may be taken against those misusing police identity to spread misinformation. The Inter Services Public Relations did not provide a comment on the matter.