Following an official announcement from the Bangladesh Awami League’s Facebook page, a demonstration was held on November 10 at Dhaka’s Zero Point to commemorate Shaheed Noor Hossain Day and call for the restoration of democracy. Various opposition groups, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, also declared their intent to gather at the same time and place. Amid the heightened tensions and ensuing confrontations, a video showing an injured woman surfaced online, with several X (formerly Twitter) accounts in India alleging that the woman was Hindu and had been raped by Muslims.
Some of these posts can be viewed here (archive), here (archive), here (archive), here (archive), and here (archive).
Some posts further claimed that the woman was a rape victim, without mentioning her religious identity. Such posts can be found here (archive) and here (archive). In some instances, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official X Handle was tagged in an attempt to draw attention to the alleged incident.
Fact-Check
Rumor Scanner’s investigation confirmed that the claims about the woman in the video are inaccurate. The injured woman, identified as Kahinur Akther, is a Muslim leader in the Farmers League, an affiliate of the Bangladesh Awami League, and was not a victim of rape. She was reportedly assaulted by opposition protesters during the November 10th rally and was subsequently taken into police custody.
Rumor Scanner traced the video back to a Facebook page named Krishak League Diary, where Kahinur Akther was identified by name. This page confirms she is a central committee member of Bangladesh Farmers League and a member of its Patuakhali District unit. The post explains that she was attacked by opposition groups during the rally and later detained by law enforcement.
This Facebook post also linked to Kahinur Akther’s personal Facebook account, where matching photos confirm her identity as the woman in the viral video.
Further evidence from her account confirms her political affiliation and Muslim identity.
Moreover, a press release from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stated that 33 Awami League-affiliated individuals were arrested on November 10. However, there is no mention of any incidents of sexual violence in connection with the event. Media reports and reliable sources corroborate that no such incidents occurred during the rally.
Conclusion
The claim that Kahinur Akther, a Muslim leader in the Farmers League, was a Hindu woman raped during the Awami League’s November 10 rally is baseless and entirely false.
Sources
- Krishak League Diary: Facebook Post
- Kahinur Akther: Facebook Account
- Rumor Scanners Own Investigation
