Recently, there has been widespread circulation of a video showing a significant gathering of individuals clad in saffron t-shirts, participating in a rally. The video has been shared across various social media platforms by several users, influencers, and propagandists with the assertion that it portrays Hindus protest in Bangladesh against recent attacks on their community. However, according to findings by D-Intent Data, it has been established that the video in question is dated back to September 2023 and is not connected to the ongoing violence in Bangladesh.
The old video was disseminated as Hindus protest with misleading claims
Several users, influencers and propagandists have shared the video of a massive crowd wearing saffron t-shirts and participating in a public rally.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter), Diptasyaa @diptasya wrote. Hindus in Bangladesh took the street in protest of attack against Hindus in Bangladesh. #SaveBangladeshiHindus
Serial fake news peddler and propagandist account @ajaychauhan41 has also shared the video and wrote. Saffron flood on the streets of Dhaka. Hindus of Bangladesh have come out on the streets to protest against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @Sudanshutrivedi, @We_IndianIN, @RealArnab_, @SaffronSwamyy, @Rajesh_Madaan29
The truth about the viral video disseminated as Hindus protest, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video of a massive crowd wearing saffron t-shirts and participating in a rally came to our notice, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that this is an old video from a political rally organized by the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League party.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video on Google Lens. This led us to several previous posts containing the same video or visuals. However, there are multiple reports of Bangladeshi Hindus protesting against the violence, but this particular video is not related to the ongoing violence.
According to the initial Facebook posts, the video is from a rally. It was organized by members of the Chhatra League under the leadership of Fahmi Gulandaz Babel in September 2023.
We also found that images from the same event were posted on Fahmi Gulandaz Babel‘s Facebook account. Posting the image Awami League leader Fahmi Gulandaz Babel wrote, “Gafargaon Upazila Chhatra League and Municipal Chhatra League organized by Bangladesh Chhatra League in commemoration of “Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Necha Mujib”. (Translated from Bengali).
Moreover, videos and images from the same event were found on different social media platforms like YouTube, and Instagram. Hence, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the viral video depicting people wearing saffron t-shirts and participating in a rally is not recent and has nothing to do with the ongoing violence in Bangladesh as claimed by the users. This video is not of Hindus but an old video from Chhatra League rally.
Intent
Social media users, influencers and propagandists are circulating old videos from different events. And making misleading claims to set their narrative over the violence in Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Claim – The video depicts Bangladeshi Hindus have organized a protest march against the recent attack on minority communities in Bangladesh.
Fact– The video is not of Hindus but an old video from a political rally organized by Chhatra League. CL is the student wing of the Awami League party, in September 2023.
