A video is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that a group of extremists deliberately set fire to Hindu houses in Barisal, Bangladesh, as part of an act of religious violence. However, detailed investigations and official reports indicate that the fire was actually caused by an electrical short circuit. The incident occurred in Manoharpur village, located in Rajapur Upazila of Jhalkathi district, and there is no credible evidence to support the allegation of targeted arson against the Hindu community in this incident.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) propagandist account @hindu8789 wrote. “Islamists set fire to #Hindu Professor Asim Biswas’ house. Calls to the police and fire services did not get help.”
Islamists set fire to #Hindu Professor Asim Biswas' house. Calls to the police and fire services did not get help.#HindusUnderAttackInBangladesh @UNHumanRights @hrw @TulsiGabbard @trump pic.twitter.com/tEMB1c16Eh
— Voice Of Bangladeshi Hindus 🇧🇩 (@hindu8789) November 15, 2024
Another account @joydas1844417 also shared the video and wrote. In Jhalkathi, Barisal. Islamists set fire the houses of Professor Asim Biswas and another Hindu persons. They ran away after seting Hindu house fire. Police and authority didn’t even come at the scene.
In Jhalkathi, Barisal
— Joy Das 🇧🇩 (@joydas1844417) November 14, 2024
Islamists set fire the houses of Professor Asim Biswas and another hindu persons.
They ran away after seting hindu house fire.
Police and authority didn’t even come at the scene. #SaveBangladeshHindu #bangladeshihindus #BangladeshCrisis pic.twitter.com/DFBwyxNNwq
Several other users and Influencers have also disseminated the visuals and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @SharwanKumarBi7, @VimalKumar52294, @Jb21bh
The truth about the incident shared as fire set to Hindu houses, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the incident and found the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit, not religious violence targeting Hindus.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a relevant keyword search and found multiple reports regarding the incident. According to the verified media reports (1, 2), Two residential houses were burnt to ashes due to an electrical short circuit fire in the Madhya Manoharpur area of Rajapur upazila of Jhalkathi. After about three hours, three fire service units brought the fire under control on November 12.
One of the victims Asim Ranjan Sikder said that the fire started due to an electrical short circuit and later it spread to other rooms. Before the fire service came and controlled the fire, the contents of two houses and the entire house were burnt to ashes. Two houses were damaged to the tune of Tk 30 to Tk 35 lakh.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the fire broke out due to a short circuit. It was not a religious violence targeting Hindus.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 16, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing a massive fire is being shared with the claim that a group of extremists set fire to Hindu houses in Barisal, Bangladesh. However, reports indicate that an electrical short circuit caused the fire. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/rmHisoIqqF
Intent
Social media users and Influencers are circulating videos from Bangladesh with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion.
Conclusion
Claim– A group of extremists set fire to Hindu houses in Barisal, Bangladesh.
Fact – The cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit, not religious violence targeting Hindus.
Related Article: Fact Check: Atika is not a Bangladeshi Hindu woman, nor was she killed during the violence – D-Intent Data
