A recently circulated photocard, designed to resemble the branding of mainstream media outlet Ekattor TV, claims that Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, stated, "Ordinary people are now saying that Sheikh Hasina was better."
Fact-Check
An investigation by the Rumor Scanner Team has confirmed that Hasnat Abdullah never made such a statement, and Ekattor TV did not publish any photocard or news containing this claim. Instead, the alleged photocard was digitally altered by modifying the headline of an existing photocard from the media outlet.
Upon initial review, the manipulated photocard features the logo of Ekattor TV and includes a publication date of February 15, 2025. Further examination of the media outlet's official Facebook page found no such photocard under the claimed headline. However, a photocard titled "A sunken boat will never float again in Bangladesh: Hasnat" was found, published by Ekattor TV on February 15. A closer comparison revealed that the altered photocard replicates the original design and image but replaces the headline with the claim that "Ordinary people are now saying Sheikh Hasina was better: Hasnat." This indicates that the original Ekattor TV photocard was edited using digital tools to create the misleading version.
The same headline from Ekattor TV’s original photocard was also reported by other media outlets. According to a report published on the website of Jamuna TV, after the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission on February 15, Hasnat spoke to journalists in front of the Foreign Service Academy, stating, "We have made it clear from our position that the boat has sunk and will never float again in Bangladesh. On August 5, the Student Citizens’ movement decided that the Awami League would be irrelevant in the future of Bangladesh. All political parties have agreed that the Awami League is no longer a relevant factor in the country’s future."
No reports from Ekattor TV or any other media outlet have mentioned Hasnat Abdullah making the alleged statement in the manipulated photocard.
Therefore, the photocard circulating on Facebook under the title "Ordinary people are now saying Sheikh Hasina was better: Hasnat" in the name of Ekattor TV is edited and misleading.
Original News Source: https://rumorscanner.com/fact-check/distorted-ekattor-tv-photocard-about-hasnat-abdullah/139417
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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.