An investigation conducted by the Rumour Scanner team revealed that from August 12 to December 5, approximately 13 false reports circulated in Indian media following the collapse of the Awami League government.
“In the wake of the Awami League government’s collapse, several rumours regarding the situation in Bangladesh have emerged in Indian media outlets,” reported Rumour Scanner Bangladesh, a fact-checking organization, in its publication titled “Spread of Fake News about Bangladesh in Indian Media Outlets,” released on its website on Friday.
A report has identified 49 Indian media outlets for disseminating fake news stories. Republic Bangla topped the list, disseminating five rumours. The Hindustan Times, Zed News, and Live Mint were in close pursuit, each disseminating three rumours. Furthermore, Republic, India Today, ABP Anand, and Aaj Tak have each aired two rumours.
Among these rumors were: a fake open letter attributed to Sheikh Hasina after her resignation, a video of a human chain by a Muslim man searching for his missing son being falsely claimed to involve a Hindu person, a false report claiming Dr Muhammad Yunus was admitted to the ICU, baseless claims about lifting the ban on banned militant organizations in Bangladesh, a fabricated story claiming Dr Yunus fled to France after Trump’s victory, false allegations about arms being smuggled into Bangladesh via a Pakistani ship, misrepresentation of the slain lawyer Saiful Islam as Chinmoy Krishna‘s lawyer, rumors about Indian channels being banned in Bangladesh, the spreading of a video of idol immersion in India falsely claiming it was in response to Hindu idols being destroyed in Bangladesh due to Muslim attacks, a false claim about an attack on a Shyamoli Paribahan bus, fabricated reports of an assault on Chinmoy Krishna’s lawyer, and misleading news about the UK issuing a travel advisory due to potential terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.
Following her ousting from power on August 5 and subsequent refuge in India, Sheikh Hasina reportedly released an open letter from Delhi, asserting that the United States played a role in her removal. The assertion gained significant traction across various Indian media outlets.
Subsequent reports indicated that Sheikh Hasina had not issued any such letter. The Rumour Scanner team has uncovered that the letter initially circulated on Facebook before making its way into the print edition of the Agartala-based daily, Tripura Bhobishyot, complete with a date.
Screenshots of the letter subsequently gained traction on social media, with numerous media outlets in India and Bangladesh later broadcasting the content.
Following August 5, a video circulated through multiple Indian media platforms alleging that a Hindu man was forming a human chain to locate his missing son.
An investigation by the Rumour Scanner team uncovered that the individual in question was a Muslim named Babul Howlader. A human chain was formed in a bid to locate a son who has been missing since 2013.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s loss of power, an interim government was established on August 8, with Dr. Muhammad Yunus taking on the role of chief adviser. Reports from Indian media outlets indicate that Dr Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, has fallen ill and has been admitted to the ICU.
This assertion was accompanied by a photograph depicting a patient undergoing treatment in a hospital. An investigation conducted by the Rumour Scanner team has uncovered that the photo in question does not represent Dr Yunus. In reality, the information was familiar and originating from Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus is reportedly in good health.
Reports from Indian media outlets indicate that following the recent political shift in Bangladesh, restrictions on several previously banned militant organizations have been removed. An investigation conducted by the Rumour Scanner team revealed this claim is unfounded. Indian media disseminated the baseless claim, lacking any credible information or evidence to substantiate it.
On November 5, Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, emerged victorious in the 47th Presidential election in the United States. In the aftermath of Trump’s victory, Indian media reported a claim suggesting Dr. Muhammad Yunus sought refuge in France. An investigation conducted by the Rumour Scanner team revealed this claim is untrue.
The image presented as proof of his escape was captured on August 8, during Dr. Yunus’s return from France to Bangladesh.
On November 13, a significant milestone was reached as a container-carrying ship docked at the Port of Chattogram, marking the first direct arrival from Karachi, Pakistan, since the nation gained independence. Reports from Indian media outlets have asserted that the vessel in question is the Pakistani military ship “Swat,” which allegedly transported arms and ammunition to Chattogram during the 1971 Liberation War.
Allegations have emerged suggesting that the vessel was transporting weapons from Pakistan to Bangladesh. Nevertheless, an inquiry conducted by the Rumour Scanner team revealed that these assertions are unfounded. The vessel, known as MV Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan, served as a commercial ship transporting industrial raw materials and consumer goods to Bangladesh.
On November 25, authorities apprehended Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the United Sanatan Awakening Alliance spokesperson, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He faces allegations of showing disrespect towards the national flag.
On November 26, he appeared before a court in Chattogram, where his request for bail was denied. As authorities sought to transfer Chinmoy to a prison van, tensions escalated within the court premises, prompting his supporters to initiate a protest. Authorities, including the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), employed batons and sound grenades to disperse the crowd of demonstrators. Amid the clashes, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif from the Chattogram District Court lost his life.
Reports from Indian media have suggested that Saiful Islam was killed due to his role as Chinmoy’s attorney. Nonetheless, this assertion proved to be inaccurate. Subhashish Sharma served as Chinmoy’s lawyer, contrary to claims that Saiful Islam held that position.
Reports from certain Indian media outlets suggest that Indian satellite channels’ broadcasts have been halted in Bangladesh. Despite earlier reports, an investigation by the Rumour Scanner team revealed that the channels remain active. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh have officially stated to Rumour Scanner that the claim is indeed false.
Reports from Indian media indicate that the Bangladesh Air Force, with support from China, is set to construct Asia’s second-largest airbase near Chicken Neck. The Rumour Scanner team has determined that this claim is completely unfounded.
The Lalmonirhat airport has been shuttered for more than sixty years, and no recent efforts have been made to reinstate its operations.
A video has recently emerged online alleging that Muslims in Bangladesh assaulted a Hindu temple and desecrated idols. Several Indian media outlets have also endorsed this claim. In a recent investigation, the Rumour Scanner team uncovered that the video did not originate from Bangladesh, as previously claimed.
Instead, it was filmed in the village of Sultanpur, located in the East Burdwan district of India, capturing a scene of idol immersion. The video bears no connection to any assaults on Hindu temples in Bangladesh.
Reports from various Indian media sources have emerged regarding an incident involving a Shyamoli Paribahan bus and a Bangladeshi truck on the Dhaka-Agartala-Dhaka route in Brahmanbaria. Allegations suggest that residents threatened the lives of Indian passengers on the bus and expressed anti-India sentiments through slogans.
The Rumour Scanner team has determined that these claims are unfounded. The incident occurred as a result of overtaking without any intention behind it, and there was no indication of threats or anti-India slogans present.
Numerous rumours have circulated regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Das, including the dissemination of a hospital image purportedly depicting Ramen Roy, the attorney representing Chinmoy Krishna Das. Reports have surfaced alleging that Muslims assaulted his residence, resulting in his hospitalization in the ICU. The Rumour Scanner team has uncovered that Ramen Roy is neither Chinmoy Das’s lawyer nor connected to the case in any capacity. On November 25, Ramen Roy sustained injuries during an assault by assailants at an event hosted by Sanatan Hindus in Shahbagh. No reports or evidence have emerged indicating that his house was vandalized.
Reports from various Indian news outlets suggest that the United Kingdom has released a travel advisory cautioning travellers about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.
This assertion has been deemed misleading. While not explicitly targeting Bangladesh, the travel advisory formed a wider alert encompassing several countries, including India, Indonesia, Germany, Spain, Sri Lanka, France, and others.
