Fact Review

Fact Review is committed to exposing misinformation and ensuring the truth reaches everyone in Bangladesh. Together, we fight fake news and build a safer.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, after the latest information on inmates who escaped from prisons across the country was made public, a claim began circulating on social media that Inspector General of Prisons (IG Prisons) Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain was removed from his post for making remarks about the escaped inmates.

However, an investigation found that although Syed Md. Motaher Hossain was withdrawn from his position as IG Prisons, his removal had no connection to his remarks about the escaped inmates. In fact, he was withdrawn from the post and repatriated to the Bangladesh Army after being appointed to a new position at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Earlier, on August 17, Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain stated that 690 of the 2,247 inmates who escaped from various prisons across the country during the July mass uprising in 2024 were still at large. Of these, the whereabouts of 166 inmates who escaped from Narsingdi Jail remained unknown. Following his remarks, posts began circulating on social media claiming that his removal from office was connected to the statement.

However, a review of the timeline related to the claim reveals otherwise. According to an August 19 report by the national daily Samayer Alo, Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain was repatriated to the Bangladesh Army and appointed as Security Adviser at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

An order issued by the Ministry of Public Administration also confirms his repatriation to the Army. Furthermore, according to subsequent government documents, his appointment as Security Adviser at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the UN was approved on July 30. Therefore, the appointment process had begun well before he made his remarks about the escaped inmates.

In other words, the process of appointing him to his new position had been approved nearly two weeks before his August 17 statement. Therefore, the claim that he was removed as IG Prisons because of his remarks about escaped inmates is inconsistent with the timeline and available government records.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, an image was circulated on X by an account named “Pakistan Untold,” claiming that Islamists had attacked a Ganesh Puja pandal in Bangladesh and assaulted Hindu devotees. The post presented the incident as part of Bangladesh’s recent situation and added religious and political interpretations to the claim.

However, an investigation found that the circulated image does not depict a recent incident in Bangladesh. In fact, it is an old photograph from a September 2024 vandalism incident at a Ganesh Puja pandal in Chattogram, which has been recirculated as a recent event in 2026. As a result, the actual date and context of the image have been omitted and it has been presented as footage of a current incident.

The image shows an intact Ganesh idol, with several objects, including an overturned red chair, scattered in front of it. The scene matches photographs and descriptions published in connection with the 2024 vandalism at a Ganesh Puja pandal in Firingi Bazar Sebak Colony, Chattogram.

According to available reports, on the evening of September 7, 2024, a group attacked and vandalized a Ganesh Puja pandal in Firingi Bazar Sebak Colony under Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram. Various items at the pandal, including ritual objects, chairs, and tables, were damaged, while the Ganesh idol remained intact. Law enforcement authorities later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

In other words, the image in question is related to the 2024 incident in Chattogram, not to any new incident in August 2026. Notably, in its post dated August 21, 2026, “Pakistan Untold” did not mention the image’s older source or the 2024 incident and instead presented it as a contemporary event.

Furthermore, as of August 21, 2026, no reliable and independent evidence was found supporting the claim that a similar attack on a Ganesh Puja pandal had recently taken place in Bangladesh. Therefore, using an old photograph as a current event creates an opportunity to mislead viewers into believing that Hindu religious festivals are currently being attacked in Bangladesh.

It should be noted that an attack involving a Ganesh Puja pandal and procession did occur in Chattogram in 2024, which is a separate matter. However, using photographs from that 2024 incident as evidence of a new attack in 2026 distorts the actual context of the image. Moreover, the circulated post provides no reliable evidence supporting its claim about the specific identity or affiliation of the alleged attackers.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, after reports emerged that at least nine people, including a child, were killed in a hotel fire in Kolkata, India, a photograph was circulated on social media in connection with the incident. At least 33 Bangladeshi media outlets also used the photograph in their reports on the fire. The image was presented as showing firefighters battling the blaze at the hotel during the recent incident.

However, an investigation found that the circulated photograph is not from the recent hotel fire in Kolkata. In fact, the photograph was taken during a fire at Bagri Market in Kolkata’s Burrabazar area in 2018.

A reverse image search led to older reports published by several Indian media outlets containing the same photograph. The image was found in a 2018 report by NDTV and a report by Hindustan Times.

According to those reports, a massive fire broke out on September 16, 2018, at Bagri Market, a multi-storey wholesale market in Kolkata’s Burrabazar area. A large number of firefighters and fire engines were deployed at the scene to bring the blaze under control. The circulated photograph was also taken during the firefighting operation at that time.

In other words, the photograph in question does not show the recent hotel fire in Kolkata. It is an approximately eight-year-old image from the 2018 Bagri Market fire that has been circulated in connection with the recent incident.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a video titled “Japanese man becomes a dog after spending 2.2 billion taka” has been circulated on social media. The video shows a person moving around with a body resembling that of a dog. Screenshots from different scenes of the video have also been shared with the same claim.

However, an investigation found that the Japanese man known as Toco did not permanently transform into a dog through surgery or any other real-life procedure. In fact, he used a specially designed costume made to resemble a dog. The viral video circulating on social media does not depict a real-life event; rather, it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

To verify the claim, relevant keywords and reverse image searches were initially used. However, no reliable information or news report was found confirming that the Japanese man had spent 2.2 billion taka to undergo surgery and transform into a dog.

The video’s visuals and audio were subsequently analyzed using various AI content detection tools, which provided strong indications that the video was AI-generated. According to Hive Detect’s analysis, the probability that the video was generated using AI was nearly 100 percent.

In addition, several international fact-checking organizations investigated the issue. Fact-checks by The Quint and BOOM also identified the viral video as AI-generated.

Meanwhile, the Japanese man known as Toco is known for using a specially designed costume that makes him look like a dog. In other words, his dog-like appearance is not the result of a permanent physical transformation through surgery, but rather the result of wearing a custom-made costume.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a photo card featuring the logo of Kaler Kantho and a picture of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been circulated on social media. It claims that Mirza Fakhrul said, “The Awami League repeatedly destroys Pakistan and then the BNP fixes it.”

However, an investigation found that Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not make such a statement. In fact, the photo card was created by digitally altering the headline of an authentic photo card originally published by Kaler Kantho.

The circulated photo card features the Kaler Kantho logo. Following this lead, the original photo card published on Kaler Kantho’s Facebook page on August 8 was found. The photograph, logo, design, and other elements of the original photo card match those of the circulated version. However, there is a significant difference in the headline.

The original photo card stated: “The Awami League repeatedly destroys the country and then the BNP fixes it: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.” In the edited photo card, the word “country” was replaced with “Pakistan.”

In other words, Mirza Fakhrul’s actual statement used the word “country,” but the edited photo card circulating on social media replaced it with “Pakistan.” As a result, the meaning of the statement was presented in a completely different manner.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a statement has been circulated on social media using a photo of Dr. Zubaida Rahman, the wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, claiming that she said, “The traitors within our own party are far more dangerous than the opposition.” Although the statement has spread widely in a political context, no reliable source has been cited for it.

An investigation found that Zubaida Rahman did not make any such statement. In fact, the claim was based on a post published by a fake Facebook account operating in her name, which was subsequently presented as an authentic statement by Zubaida Rahman.

A review of the posts circulating the claim found no specific information about where, when, or in what context Zubaida Rahman allegedly made the statement. Searches using relevant keywords also found no evidence of the remark in any reliable media report, interview, or public statement.

Furthermore, a review of Zubaida Rahman’s recent activities and statements, as well as information published on the BNP’s official Facebook page and media cell, found no record of the alleged statement.

However, while tracing the source of the claim, a post containing the same statement was found on a Facebook account named “Dr. Zobaida Rahman.” A review of the account showed that although it operates using Zubaida Rahman’s name, it is not an official or verified account belonging to her. Therefore, there is no basis for treating posts from that account as statements made by Zubaida Rahman herself.

Thus, a statement published by a fake Facebook account has been misleadingly circulated on social media as an authentic comment by Zubaida Rahman.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a video showing a woman dancing has been circulated on social media with the claim that it depicts BNP reserved women’s seat MP Fahmida Haque dancing while intoxicated. The video has also generated various comments and reactions on social media.

However, an investigation found that the woman in the video is not Fahmida Haque. In fact, an old dance video of a different woman that has been circulating online for years has been falsely presented as footage of Fahmida Haque.

Tracing the source of the video led to the discovery of the same footage on the YouTube channel “vijjumovies2012,” where it was published on February 9, 2015. The woman in the video was identified there as Indian, and she can be seen dancing to the song “One, Two, Three, Four” from the film Chennai Express. Evidence was also found that videos featuring the same woman were uploaded to YouTube in 2016 and 2020.

Meanwhile, a comparison between the woman in the circulated video and publicly available photographs of Fahmida Haque revealed visible differences between the two. No reliable news report, original video, or relevant source was found to support the claim that the woman in the video is Fahmida Haque.

Further investigation found that a woman identifying herself as an Indian model named “Sakshi Rana” had also posted the same video on her Instagram account and identified it as her own video. This further contradicts the claim that the video is related to Fahmida Haque.

In other words, an old dance video of a different woman that has been available online since 2015 has been falsely presented as a recent video of MP Fahmida Haque.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a photo card featuring the image of Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud and the logo of Dainik Ittefaq has been circulated on social media. It claims that EC Masud said, “Jamaat MPs have no chance of losing their parliamentary seats, no matter what crimes they commit.”

An investigation found that EC Masud did not make any such statement. In fact, the viral photo card was created by digitally altering the headline of an authentic photo card published by Dainik Ittefaq.

The circulated photo card features the Dainik Ittefaq logo and EC Masud’s photograph. Following this lead, the original photo card published on Dainik Ittefaq’s Facebook page was found. Its headline read, “There is no scope for losing an MP seat if expelled from the party: EC Masud.” Although the photographs, logo, and overall design of the original and circulated photo cards are similar, there are clear differences in the wording and font of the headlines.

Furthermore, EC Masud’s actual remarks were found in the relevant report published by Dainik Ittefaq. There, he said that under the law, an MP is not supposed to retain their seat if they resign from the party. However, if they are expelled by the party, there is no provision under the Constitution for them to lose their parliamentary seat. He also stated that if a reference is received from Parliament and the Election Commission receives a letter from Parliament through the Speaker, the commission can take action in accordance with the law.

In other words, EC Masud’s actual remarks concerned the constitutional and legal status of an MP’s seat in cases of resignation or expulsion from a political party. He did not say that Jamaat MPs would have no chance of losing their seats even if they committed crimes.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a video has been circulated on social media claiming that it shows a gunfight between armed members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) in Khagrachhari. The video shows armed individuals exchanging gunfire and engaging in combat. As a result, many online users have assumed that the footage is related to the recent situation in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.

However, an investigation found no connection between the video and Khagrachhari or any conflict between the UPDF and JSS. In fact, the video shows a clash between junta forces and rebel fighters in Myaung town in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region.

Tracing the source of the video led to the same footage being found on the Facebook page of Myanmar-based news outlet Khit Thit Media, where it was published on May 9, 2025. According to the post, the footage shows a clash between junta forces and rebel fighters in Myaung town in the Sagaing Region.

Further investigation found a report published by Myanmar-based news outlet Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) on May 10, 2025, which also mentioned the incident. According to the report, four soldiers, including a deputy commander, were claimed to have been killed and several weapons seized during an attack on junta forces in Myaung town on May 5.

In addition, a video and statement published on May 9 on the Facebook page of the Myaung Rangers Force (MRF) provided further details about the same incident. According to the statement, on May 5, MRF and several allied units jointly attacked a junta position at a toll gate in Myaung town. Similarities were also found between various scenes in the circulated video and the location and combat footage shown in the MRF video.

Therefore, the location, date, and identity of the incident depicted in the circulated footage all correspond to the conflict in Myaung, Myanmar. No evidence was found linking the video to any clash between the UPDF and JSS in Khagrachhari, Bangladesh.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

On August 17, police detained Mahadi Hasan, member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s Habiganj district unit, while he was preparing for a protest march against severe load shedding, rising electricity prices, the gas crisis, and increasing commodity prices. He was released after approximately 20 hours. Following the incident, a statement was circulated on social media in the name of Nusrat Tabassum, Joint Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a member of parliament from a reserved women’s seat.

A photo card circulating online quotes Nusrat Tabassum as saying, “July fighter Mahadi is like my child; arresting him means arresting me.”

However, an investigation found that Nusrat Tabassum did not make any such statement regarding Mahadi Hasan’s detention. The photo card circulated in support of the claim contains no news source, information about where or when the statement was made, or reference to any original video. Searches using relevant keywords also found no such statement in any reliable media outlet or trustworthy source.

Tracing the source of the photo card revealed that it originated from a post by a satire-based social media page. A review of the page’s other posts also showed a tendency to publish satirical and fictional statements as content. The post was subsequently circulated through various platforms after its satirical context was removed and the statement was presented as an authentic comment by Nusrat Tabassum.

Furthermore, a review of Nusrat Tabassum’s recent social media activity and reliable news reports concerning Mahadi Hasan’s detention found no evidence of the alleged statement.

In other words, the real incident of Mahadi Hasan’s detention was used as the basis for presenting a fictional statement published by a satire-based page as an actual comment by Nusrat Tabassum.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a video has been circulating on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that Muslims in Bangladesh are setting fire to Hindus’ homes. The 15-second video shows a fire burning while two women can be heard crying and describing the incident. The video is being used to portray an alleged recent wave of attacks and arson targeting Hindus in Bangladesh.

However, an investigation found that the footage is not recent. A reverse image search of several keyframes from the video found similar footage in a video published on July 4, 2025, by a Facebook account named Asma Akter. A review of the account, as well as the associated Instagram and TikTok accounts, found that videos depicting life and various incidents in hilly areas are regularly posted by the same individuals. However, no reliable information was found in the related posts explaining the exact circumstances behind the fire.

Most importantly, there is no evidence that the people whose homes were allegedly burned in the video are Hindu or followers of the Sanatan faith. In other words, an old video of a fire has been taken out of context and falsely linked to a communal claim.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

A statement has been circulating on social media attributed to Dr. Nahreen I Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University, claiming: “Providing separate buses has belittled women because women can travel alongside men on equal terms. What has been done now is gender discrimination.”

Verification found that the circulated statement was not made by Dr. Nahreen I Khan. Recently, amid discussions surrounding the launch of a separate bus service for women, a statement began circulating on social media describing the provision of separate buses for women as “belittling women” and “gender discrimination.” The posts attributed the statement to Dr. Nahreen I Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar University.

To verify the claim, the original sources of Dr. Nahreen I Khan’s statements, relevant news reports, and her social media accounts were reviewed. However, no reliable source, full interview, video, or post published by her was found supporting the circulated statement.

When contacted regarding the matter, Dr. Nahreen I Khan directly stated, “I have never made such a comment.”

Furthermore, a review of her social media accounts and information published by various news outlets found no statement by her consistent with the remarks being circulated about the separate bus service for women.

In other words, although Dr. Nahreen I Khan’s name has been attached to the statement circulating on social media, there is no reliable evidence supporting the attribution. Rather, the person concerned herself has denied making the statement.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a video has been circulating on social media claiming to show “terrifying” and violent activities by Bangladesh’s hill communities. Various hashtags referring to Bangladesh and the military have also been used alongside the video.

However, an investigation found that the video has no connection to any incident in Bangladesh. The original video was published on August 4 on an Indonesian YouTube channel called “Bang Tampue.” According to the channel’s description, the videos published there are not footage of real events; rather, they are produced to raise awareness against unlawful activities. The same individuals can also be seen portraying different characters in other videos on the channel. The style of filming, acting, and presentation further makes it clear that the videos are deliberately staged productions.

Therefore, a staged video produced in Indonesia is being falsely presented as footage of violent acts by Bangladesh’s hill communities. The claim is false.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Claim that Rashed Khan called Tarique Rahman a ‘fraud’ is based on an edited and misleading video

Recently, a video has been circulating on social media with the claim that BNP leader Rashed Khan called Tarique Rahman a “fraud.”

Investigation shows that the video circulating on social media has been edited. A portion of the original video was cut and stitched together in a way that makes it appear as though Rashed Khan called Tarique Rahman a “fraud.”

A review of the circulated version and the context of the original statement shows that the continuity of the speech was not maintained in the viral video. As a result, the edited portion has been presented separately, creating a different meaning from the speaker’s original statement.

Furthermore, a review of the full video of Rashed Khan’s statement and relevant reliable sources found no evidence that he directly called Tarique Rahman a “fraud.”

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, an image has been circulating on social media claiming to show an accident involving the ‘Pink Bus’ launched for women. The image shows a pink-colored bus apparently crashed beside a road. Based on the image, it has been claimed that it depicts a recent accident involving a Pink Bus.

However, an investigation found that the circulated image is not an actual photograph of a Pink Bus accident. Various elements of the image display characteristics of content generated or edited using artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, presenting the image as footage of a real accident is misleading.

However, the bus accident itself is not entirely fictional. On March 16, a passenger bus named ‘Islam Paribahan’ collided head-on with an oncoming truck near the Bakerganj Fire Service Station area on the Barishal–Kuakata highway in Bakerganj, Barishal. Following the collision, the bus lost control and fell into a roadside ditch. Media reports stated that at least 10 passengers were injured in the incident.

In other words, although a passenger bus accident did occur in Barishal on March 16, the image circulating on social media is not a scene from that accident and does not depict any real accident involving the women’s ‘Pink Bus’.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a claim titled “From DUCSU VP to University of Dhaka Teacher: Sadik Kayem Joins as Faculty” has been circulating on social media. The claim has been presented in a way that suggests Sadik Kayem, Vice President (VP) of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has recently been appointed as a teacher at the University of Dhaka.

However, an investigation found no evidence that Sadik Kayem has joined the University of Dhaka as a teacher. The posts circulating in support of the claim do not provide any appointment letter, official announcement from the university, or reliable source.

To verify the claim, the University of Dhaka’s official website and its published list of faculty members were reviewed, but Sadik Kayem’s name was not found. Similarly, no information indicating that he had joined the University of Dhaka as a teacher was found in the country’s mainstream media, from relevant university authorities, or on Sadik Kayem’s social media accounts.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

A photo card designed in the style of the online news outlet Bangla Tribune has been circulating on social media. It attributes a statement to former Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, claiming that the country’s political parties had failed to recognize talented and qualified individuals and that, had they done so, BNP would have appointed him to Bangabhaban. However, an investigation found that Asif Nazrul did not make any such statement, and Bangla Tribune did not publish any such photo card or report.

A review of Bangla Tribune’s Facebook page, website, and YouTube channel found no trace of the alleged statement. Instead, an examination of the circulated photo card found that it had been created by editing the design and logo of an authentic Bangla Tribune photo card.

In other words, a fabricated statement was attributed to Asif Nazrul and circulated using the identity of an established media outlet. Therefore, the claim that Asif Nazrul said, “BNP would have appointed me to Bangabhaban,” is false and misleading.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a photo card attributed to Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Adviser for Information and Broadcasting, has been circulating on social media. It claims that the Russia-Ukraine war is the reason electricity demand and electricity bills in the country have increased by two to three times. However, no reliable evidence was found that he made any such statement. Instead, the claim was traced to a satirical post published by a parody page.

The photo card in question was first published on August 4 by a Facebook page called “Daily Mollar Desh.” A review of the page’s posts found that it regularly publishes satirical and parody content. In other words, a post created for satirical purposes was later circulated out of context and presented as a genuine statement.

Meanwhile, in a video statement given by Zahed Ur Rahman on August 16, there was no claim that the Russia-Ukraine war was responsible for the country’s gas and electricity crisis or that electricity bills had increased two to threefold. Rather, he referred to long-standing policies and decisions, as well as the global energy situation, as factors behind the current crisis.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a claim has circulated on social media that Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, “The electricity and gas crisis will not be resolved even in the next two years. If you don’t like it, move to the villages.” The claim originated from a satirical page and was subsequently circulated as if it were an actual statement by the minister.

An investigation found that although Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said that resolving the electricity and gas crisis could take at least two years, he did not make any statement such as “if you don’t like it, move to the villages.” Therefore, the viral post has combined his actual remarks with a fabricated comment and presented them as a single statement.

At a seminar organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at a hotel in the capital on August 16, Amir Khosru said that the country’s electricity and gas problems could not be resolved within six months or one year and that it could take at least two years. In the same statement, he said that the government was working to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible and was not wasting any time.

In other words, the reference to a two-year timeframe is part of his actual statement, but there is no reliable basis for the alleged remark, “If you don’t like it, move to the villages.” Rather, the misleading claim spread after a satirical post from a satire-based page was presented as an actual statement by the minister.

[Fact Review @factreview360]

Recently, a claim has circulated on social media that Jamaat-e-Islami activists attacked Kurigram District Commissioner and Returning Officer Annapurna Debnath after the nomination of the party’s candidate for the Kurigram-3 (Ulipur) constituency was rejected, and that she was nearly killed. The claim has been misleadingly presented alongside references to a tense situation surrounding the incident.

An investigation found that although there was tension and commotion among Jamaat activists in Kurigram following the rejection of the party candidate’s nomination, there was no attack or physical assault on District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath.

According to a January 4 report by the national daily Jugantor, Jamaat-nominated candidate Mahabubul Alam Salehi’s nomination for the Kurigram-3 constituency was rejected following scrutiny of his nomination papers, prompting Jamaat activists and supporters to create a disturbance. District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath said that the nomination papers had been scrutinized in accordance with election laws and regulations, and that the aggrieved party had the opportunity to appeal.

A report by Prothom Alo also stated that, following allegations concerning dual citizenship, candidate Mahabubul Alam had been asked to submit the necessary documents. However, he failed to provide the required documentary evidence regarding the cancellation of his application to relinquish his British citizenship. As a result, his nomination was rejected. In protest against the decision, more than 200 Jamaat leaders, activists, and supporters gathered in front of the District Commissioner’s office, where they engaged in heated exchanges with government officials inside the District Commissioner’s conference room.

Meanwhile, according to a report by Bangladesh Pratidin, an additional police contingent was deployed to bring the situation under control after tension arose in front of the Returning Officer’s office. However, none of these reports contain any information indicating that District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath was attacked, physically assaulted, or subjected to an attempt on her life.

In other words, the claim has taken the real incident of commotion and tension following the rejection of the nomination and added a fabricated allegation that the District Commissioner was attacked.