Video of People Pushed Off a Building in Bangladesh Shared with False Communal Claims

Bangladesh is currently experiencing a tense situation, with social media users frequently discussing the unfolding events. Amid the heightened emotions, a significant amount of misleading content is circulating online, further fueling confusion and anxiety. This disinformation contributes to an already volatile environment, making it crucial for users to critically evaluate the sources of the information they encounter and rely on verified news outlets for accurate updates.

Social Media Posts

A video circulating on social media claims that Hindu students were attacked in Dhaka's Hindu hostel by students of Jamaat-e-Islami and were pushed off the roof of a building.

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It's viral on WhatsApp, too.

A distressing video showing people being pushed off the roof of a building in Bangladesh is circulating on social media with communal claims. The captions accompanying the video assert that the incident took place at a Hindu hostel in Dhaka, where Hindu students were attacked by members of Jamaat-e-Islami, a conservative Islamist political organization.

Those videos go viral on Thread, too. Thread post can be seen here

Fact Check

Verification:

We found that the incident occurred in Muradpur, Chattogram, not Dhaka. The video shows a violent clash between protesters and members of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, which was the ruling party at the time.

According to a news report from Dhaka Post dated July 17, 2024, the video captures a confrontation where protesters attacked Chhatra League members. During the altercation, some Chhatra League members were pushed off the roof of a five-story building named Mir Manzil. The report also indicates that bricks were thrown at individuals who were trying to hang on to the building's walls and water pipes to avoid falling.

Further details from Maasranga News and Dhaka Tribune corroborate that the incident resulted in 15 Chhatra League members being injured after falling from the building. The injured were reportedly under treatment in a hospital, with some enduring serious injuries from the fall and subsequent mob beatings.

False Communal Spin:

The video was misrepresented on social media with a communal narrative, falsely claiming that Jamaat-e-Islami members targeted Hindu students at a Hindu hostel in Dhaka. However, the actual incident was a politically charged clash between Chhatra League members and protesters, with no connection to the communal claims being spread.

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Conclusion:

The claim that the video shows an attack on Hindu students in Dhaka by Jamaat-e-Islami members is entirely false. The incident occurred in Chattogram, involving Chhatra League members who protesters attacked during a politically motivated clash. Social media users are advised to verify the authenticity of such videos before sharing them, especially when misleading or inflammatory captions accompany them.