On August 5, the Awami League government was ousted following a student-led and public uprising. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India during the upheaval. Subsequently, an interim government was formed with Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor. Alongside discussions and debates surrounding the new government, misinformation is also spreading on social media. One such viral video claims that associates of Dr. Muhammad Yunus are involved in abusing people. The caption of the post reads, “After Dr. Yunus seized power, Bangladesh has turned into a terrifying state. He and his gang are oppressing citizens.” The video shows a group of individuals physically assaulting a man.
The video was shared from an X account under the name Md. Zamal Hossain on Monday at 9:45 PM. By Tuesday afternoon, the post had garnered over 6,000 views, 70 reactions, 40 reposts, and more than 30 comments. Some comments claimed that the video was from India, while others assumed it to be true. An account named Sharif commented, “This is very unfortunate.”
To verify the authenticity, key frames of the video were analyzed through reverse image search. The frames matched visuals from a July 9, 2024 report by The Indian Express. The report indicated that the incident took place in Kamarhati, a locality in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. According to the report, the video depicts an incident where associates of a Trinamool Congress leader were accused of harassing a woman. The footage was from inside a club and sparked political outrage in West Bengal. Police in West Bengal confirmed that the event likely occurred in February 2021 at the Ariadaha Talta Sporting Club. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. The same visuals were also featured in reports by The Times of India, News18, and LatestLY.
Therefore, it is clear that the video has no connection to Dr. Muhammad Yunus or his associates. The footage, in reality, is from a 2021 incident in West Bengal, India, where it was misrepresented online to falsely allege abuse by Dr. Yunus’s people in Bangladesh.
Original News Link: https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/fact-check/slip-of-tongue/ajplqtdkw5b9b
Fact-Check Alert
Please be aware of misleading information about Bangladesh politics on social media and verify sources before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.
Before sharing any photocard, always verify it by checking the original media source.
Sharing religious misinformation and disinformation can cause harm. Always verify before sharing.