A photocard styled after Ekattor TV has recently circulated online, claiming that Bangladesh’s Home Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said: “Durga Puja is a festival of liquor and cannabis gatherings.”
Posts carrying this claim on X can be seen here (archive), here (archive), and here (archive).
Fact-check
Rumor Scanner’s investigation found that Jahangir Alam Chowdhury did not call Durga Puja a festival of liquor and cannabis. Neither did Ekattor TV publish such a photocard. In reality, he stated that strict security measures were taken across the country for Durga Puja and issued a warning:“Liquor and cannabis gatherings will not be allowed during Puja.”
When examining the viral photocard, it clearly bore Ekattor TV’s logo. Following this lead, Rumor Scanner traced the original photocard published on Ekattor TV’s official Facebook page on September 8. Except for the altered text, the design matched the viral image. The authentic text read: “Liquor and cannabis gatherings will not be allowed during Puja: Home Adviser.”
Further verification showed that Channel 24 published a video of his full statement on September 8. In the video, Jahangir Alam emphasized Durga Puja as the largest religious festival of the Hindu community and detailed security arrangements: 24-hour observation at Puja venues by Ansar members, deployment of armed forces, police, RAB, and BGB. He also specifically warned that liquor and cannabis gatherings, which sometimes occur near accompanying fairs, would not be permitted this year.
Additionally, a Prothom Alo report on September 8 stated that Jahangir Alam announced no fairs would be allowed around Puja venues this year, since they often become hotspots for liquor and cannabis gatherings. Only small shops approved by Puja committees would be allowed.
Similarly, a Daily Star report on September 8 confirmed that strict nationwide security had been arranged for Durga Puja, including deployment of BGB in border areas. The Home Adviser reiterated that no unauthorized fairs or liquor/cannabis gatherings would be allowed near Puja mandaps, though small committee-approved shops could remain.
Across all these credible sources, there is no evidence that Jahangir Alam Chowdhury described Durga Puja as a “festival of liquor and cannabis.” The viral claim is a distortion of his actual cautionary statement.
Conclusion
The photocard circulated in the name of Ekattor TV claiming that “Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, ‘Durga Puja is a festival of alcohol and cannabis gathering’” is edited.
Sources
- Ekattor – Facebook Post
- Channel 24 – Home Adviser statement on Durga Puja security
Prothom Alo – Durga Puja Mandap Security Measures - The Daily Star – No fairs or liquor-cannabis gatherings near Puja mandaps: Home Adviser
- Rumor Scanner’s analysis
