On January 28, the Awami League announced its political programs against the interim government through its official Facebook page. As per the declaration, from February 1 to February 5, leaflets would be distributed, followed by protest marches and rallies on February 6. A demonstration march and rally were scheduled for February 10, while a blockade program was planned for February 16. On February 18, a nationwide dawn-to-dusk general strike was declared. The announcement referred to Sheikh Hasina as the "Prime Minister." However, there was no mention of the statement being issued by any official leader or activist of the party.

Amid this, an image of a statement titled "Urgent Notice Regarding Rumors of Hartal and Movement in February," purportedly issued by Sheikh Hasina, has been circulating on social media, as observed by Rumor Scanner. The statement reads: "Dear countrymen, you are surely aware that I am extremely ill. A fatal cancer is pushing me towards death. In this condition, I have no desire for power or political ambition. I want to make it clear that BNP-Jamaat members have hacked the Facebook page of Bangladesh Awami League and are spreading provocative propaganda to incite peaceful Awami League activists towards hartals, blockades, and acts of arson, which is highly condemnable and reprehensible. I have repeatedly stated that I now seek peace and want to prepare for the afterlife. I unequivocally declare that I am still the President of Bangladesh Awami League, and neither I nor my party have any connection to such acts of terrorism or arson. In this situation, I urge the countrymen to resist these arson terrorists and hand them over to law enforcement agencies. Joy Bangla! Joy Bangabandhu! Long live Bangladesh."

Fact-Check

Rumor Scanner’s investigation reveals that the statement titled "Urgent Notice Regarding Rumors of Hartal and Movement in February" is fake. In reality, Sheikh Hasina has not issued any such statement. Initial verification of the Awami League’s official Facebook page found no information regarding such a statement. Further analysis of the circulated image exposed several inconsistencies, including the presence of India's national emblem, a mixture of Hindi and Bengali, and Sheikh Hasina’s name written in Hindi and English—elements that are not characteristic of an authentic statement from her. Additionally, while the statement claims that the Awami League’s Facebook page was hacked, no such information has been reported by the media or any reliable sources within the party. No credible media outlet or authoritative source has provided any information confirming the authenticity of this statement.

Therefore, the statement titled "Urgent Notice Regarding Rumors of Hartal and Movement in February," attributed to Sheikh Hasina, is entirely fabricated and baseless.

Original News Source: https://rumorscanner.com/fact-check/fake-statement-in-the-name-of-sheikh-hasina-about-awami-leagues-program-in-february-went-viral-on-social-media/137462