Oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh: Rumors opened by BBC
After Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, widespread violence ensued in the country. However, amid all the violence, numerous fake posts circulated on social media, claiming that Hindus in Bangladesh were being subjected to severe persecution.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has set up a special committee to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and Indians living in Bangladesh.
Again, the Bangladesh Government wants to start a hotline for the safety of religious minorities from Sunday. However, fact-checkers have confirmed that most of the fake posts circulating on social media about the 'massive persecution' of Hindus in Bangladesh were posted by various Indian accounts.
Besides, such rumors spread inside Bangladesh through social media.
They are also saying that there have been definitely some attacks on the Hindus of Bangladesh. Temples and houses have been set on fire. But while verifying the information, it was found that the houses of Muslims were also vandalized and set on fire.
In this case, the attacker's target was the houses and properties of Awami League leaders and workers. Religious identity was mostly secondary, they were attacked for their political identity.
Some Awami League leaders and supporters from Bangladesh who fled to India or attempted to flee confirmed that both Hindu and Muslim Awami League leaders' homes were attacked.
However, fact-checkers believe that in India, these events were given a communal color rather than being portrayed as politically motivated.
The BBC's fact-checking division, BBC Verify, reached a similar conclusion.
Several viral posts claimed that Hindu temples were attacked. One such post caught the attention of a protester named Mr Moinul in Chattogram. When BBC Verify contacted him, he was guarding the 'Shree Shree Sita Kali Mata Temple' near Chattogram.
Mr Moinul said, 'It is our responsibility to protect them. We will protect all government establishments, temples, churches—everything.'
He added that the posts circulating online do not match the reality he witnessed.
Those posts present a false image of Bangladesh to the world.
However, the advisors of the interim government emphasized that the government is committed to maintaining religious harmony and goodwill at any cost.
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