A video showing a mob attacking and harassing a few women has been circulating, with claims that extremists in Bangladesh are targeting women for not wearing hijabs. However, these claims are false. Reports suggest that the women in question are members of the Awami League, and they were assaulted by BNP supporters and other groups due to political rivalry, with no connection to any hijab-related issue.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) serial fake news peddler and propagandist account, @ajaychauhan41 wrote. “Bangladesh has become a Taliban-like state. Today Islamists harassed and molested a woman just because she was not wearing a hijab and burqa. This incident took place in the Gulistan area of Dhaka city.”
बांग्लादेश तालिबान जैसा राज्य बन गया है.
— हम लोग We The People 🇮🇳 (@ajaychauhan41) November 10, 2024
आज इस्लामवादियों ने एक महिला को सिर्फ इसलिए परेशान किया और छेड़छाड़ की क्योंकि उसने हिजाब और बुर्का नहीं पहना था।
यह घटना ढाका शहर के गुलिस्तान इलाके में हुई. pic.twitter.com/5gJPDYkTGL
Another propaganda account @pakistan_untold also shared the video and wrote. Arfa, Sayema, Zubair, Rana, Saba, Ravish etc in India tell you Hijab is a ‘choice’. They don’t tell you what awaits you if you ‘choose’ not to wear it.
Arfa, Sayema, Zubair, Rana, Saba, Ravish etc in India tell you Hijab is a 'choice'.
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) November 10, 2024
They don't tell you what awaits you if you 'choose' not to wear it.pic.twitter.com/1nQyklex0h
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also disseminated the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @HinduVoice_in, @tanim_abeer
The truth about the viral video shared as mob attacking in Bangladesh, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that these claims were not true.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to media reports containing the same visuals. Reports indicate that the women involved are Awami League members who were attacked by BNP supporters and other groups due to political rivalry, unrelated to any hijab issue.
Few were beaten up in the Bangabandhu Avenue area on suspicion of being Chhatra League, and Jubo League activists for chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans and saying that Sheikh Hasina would return to the country again.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the women were not targeted for not wearing hijab or burqa.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 11, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing a mob assaulting and harassing a few women has circulated with claims that extremists in Bangladesh are targeting women for not wearing hijabs. However, these claims are inaccurate. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/G33A8rpn7A
Intent
Social media users, influencers and propagandists are circulating videos from Bangladesh with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion.
Conclusion
Claim– The video depicts a mob assaulting women for not wearing hijab in Bangladesh.
Fact– The victim women are Awami League workers. They were targeted in a political rivalry, nothing to do with Hijab.
Related Article: Fact Check: Illegal Bangladeshi in Assam demanding a separate country in India? No, old video resurfaced with misleading claims – D-Intent Data
