The fact-checking organization FactWatch has identified a digitally manipulated photo card circulating on Facebook, falsely attributing a statement to Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman. The photo card, designed in the style of the newspaper Amar Desh, features a headline claiming, "Jamaat made no mistakes in 1971," alongside a fabricated quote allegedly from Shafiqur Rahman. The statement on the card reads, “The nation has been taught a distorted version of history. Jamaat was not against independence. The top leaders of Jamaat were national heroes who participated in the Liberation War of 1971. Professor Ghulam Azam was supposed to be awarded the title Bir Pratik, but for undisclosed reasons, he was not given the honor.”
FactWatch's investigation reveals that the photo card is baseless and was not published by Amar Desh in any form. The newspaper’s logo was used in an altered manner, and the fabricated statement was inserted using digital tools. No mainstream media outlet has reported that Jamaat’s Ameer made such a claim.
An examination of Amar Desh’s website and official Facebook page confirms that no such photo card has been published. The design and font of the forged card differ significantly from Amar Desh’s authentic photo cards. Additionally, several words on the manipulated image, such as “wrong,” “Bir Pratik,” and “reason”, were misspelt indicating clear fabrication.
Further verification across mainstream media sources found no evidence of Shafiqur Rahman making such a statement. Reports confirm that on November 19, 2024, during a "Meet the Press" event in East London, UK, Shafiqur Rahman stated that if it were proven beyond doubt that Jamaat had made any mistakes in 1971, he would seek the nation's forgiveness. However, in a separate incident, Jamaat’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, recently expressed regret for publishing a controversial article on the Liberation War in their official publication Chhatra Sangbad and subsequently withdrew both online and print editions.
The investigation confirms that the photo card in circulation was digitally manipulated using Amar Desh’s logo and a fabricated statement. Based on all available evidence, FactWatch has classified the photo card as "distorted."
Original News Source: https://www.fact-watch.org/jamaat-ameers-statement-about-71/
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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.