The series of fake videos depicting violence in Bangladesh especially against the minorities aftermath the ouster of former PM Sheikh Haseena making rounds on the social media in India is a worrisome phenomenon calling for an immediate action and removal of all content spreading bogus narratives having potential to disturb the social fabric in the country.
There is no doubt in the fact that certain factual reports have confirmed cases of violence against minority community in that troubled country but that doesn’t justifies circulation of fake videos to disrupt peace and harmony in India for satiating certain vested interests.
In this regard, the fact check section of one of the leading news agencies of the country has been flooded with information regarding such fake videos flooding the social media sites claiming widespread violence against the minorities especially Hindus in Bangladesh post the resignation of former PM of that country.
In this context, a video showing several people lying on the road, seemingly dead or injured, was recently circulated on social media with claims that they were Hindus killed in violence-stricken Bangladesh. However, the investigation by the Fact Check Desk of the aforesaid news agency has reportedly revealed that the video, which dates back to July, actually depicts a tragic incident in Bogra, Bangladesh, where people died from electrocution during Jagannath Dev’s Rath Yatra.
The video was misleadingly shared with a false communal narrative. Besides, another video circulating on social media showing two women tied to a pillar and being verbally abused, accompanied by claims that they are Hindu victims in Bangladesh held captive and sold by Muslims amidst violence in the country has been also confirmed to be fake as the aforesaid Fact Check Desk of the news agency has unraveled that the incident occurred at Begum Badrunnessa Government Women’s College in Dhaka, where student protesters had tied up members of the Chhatra League in opposition to the quota reform movement thus the video was falsely portrayed with a communal narrative on social media.
It is pertinent to mention that in context of ongoing violence and political instability following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, reports have surfaced about increased attacks on the minority Hindu community and the destruction of Hindu temples in Bangladesh.
The Government in India should take immediate measures to stop the fake content having potential to incite communal tension in the country from spreading further and it should also identify the culprits trying to disrupt peace through such nefarious mechanizations as communal unrest is not in the interest of anyone making it necessary to deter people from indulging in such acts.
