A video depicting a fire at the Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, has been falsely circulated on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, with claims that it shows attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
These posts have deliberately aimed to exploit existing religious tensions in Bangladesh, which have indeed seen periods of strain, particularly following the political changes in August 2024.
The spread of this false information has been observed to be originating from sources outside of Bangladesh, with the purpose of creating further instability.
New Delhi has previously accused Dhaka of failing to protect its minority Hindu population, particularly following reprisal attacks after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, as many perceived the community to have supported her government. However, Bangladesh's caretaker administration has denied these allegations.
Some social media users mistakenly believed the footage was from Bangladesh. One post read, “If the Bharatiya Janata Party and Modi were not in India, the situation would be the same here.” Another user urged Hindus to “unite” in response.
Fact-Checking Confirmation:
Multiple fact-checking organizations, including PTI Fact Check and Bangladeshi fact-checking platforms, have confirmed that the video is from a fire in Ghana, and not related to any incidents in Bangladesh.
These organizations used reverse image searches and cross-referenced the video with reports of the Ghana market fire to verify its origin.
It has been found that many of these false claims have been propagated from social media accounts based in India.
The Dangers of Misinformation:
This incident highlights the dangers of misinformation, particularly in regions with existing religious or political tensions.
False claims can incite violence, exacerbate existing conflicts, and undermine trust in reliable sources of information.
The intent of these false claims are to create inter religious hate, and destabilize the current political climate within Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Context:It is true that Bangladesh, like many diverse nations, experiences periods of communal tension. However, it is vital to distinguish between factual events and deliberately fabricated propaganda. It is also important to remember that the Bangladeshi government, has repeatedly stated that they are committed to protecting all religious minorities within the nation.
In summary, the video in question is not evidence of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. It is a clear case of misinformation being used to fuel religious tensions.
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