Recently, a video circulated on social media claiming that a Hindu businessman in Pirojpur, Bangladesh was beaten by BNP activists for not paying extortion money.
Watch such a video circulated on Facebook here, here, and here.
The same video was shared on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that jihadis were assaulting a Hindu shopkeeper.
Watch such a video shared on X here and here.
Fact Check
Rumor Scanner’s investigation reveals that the claim that a Hindu businessman was assaulted by BNP activists or by jihadis for not paying extortion is false. In fact, the person being beaten in the video is a Muslim. He was caught red-handed while trying to steal a mobile phone and was assaulted. The video was recorded at that very moment.
As part of the investigation, a video was found posted on April 30th from the Facebook account of SK Raju, a member of the Alfadanga Press Club in Faridpur district.
After reviewing the video, it was observed that the beginning of the video posted by SK Raju matches the widely circulated video. In both, the same person is being assaulted. From the title of the video, it is learned that the individual was caught stealing from a shop owned by someone named Alam, located beside the old transport bus counter in Alfadanga Municipality, Faridpur.
In a further search, another video of the same incident, shot from a different angle, was found on a Facebook account named Mehedi Hasan.
That video also mentions the person being caught while stealing. Additionally, it shows the accused handing over his national ID card to another person.
Later, to get more details on the matter, Rumor Scanner contacted Yasin Arafat Shamim, General Secretary of the Alfadanga Press Club. He stated that the assaulted individual seen in the video is not Hindu, but Muslim. His name is Md. Din Islam Ghorami. On April 30, he was caught red-handed while stealing a mobile phone from Alam Mia’s shop near the Alfadanga Bus Stand in Faridpur. At that time, shop owner Alam Mia beat Din Islam. However, later, he was released at the request of locals.
Yasin Arafat Shamim also provided Rumor Scanner with a photo of Md. Din Islam Ghorami and his national ID, confirming that the victim is not of the Hindu faith.
Conclusion
Therefore, the claim that a Hindu businessman was assaulted in Pirojpur by BNP activists or by radical Muslims for not paying extortion money is entirely false.
Sources
- SK Raju Facebook Post
- Mehedi Hasan Facebook Post
- Statement of Yasin Arafat Shamim, General Secretary, Alfadanga Press Club
