The Verdict [False]
Logically Facts was able to confirm that the woman in the video is Muslim, who was attacked for her association with the Chhatra League.
What is the claim?
A video depicting a woman in a black-colored kurta being attacked by a group of people is circulating on social media platforms, claiming that it depicts Muslims attacking a Hindu girl in Bangladesh amid the ongoing unrest in the country.
The video shows a woman in black clothes surrounded by a crowd, who make her do sit-ups and seemingly lick a shoe. She can also be seen running away after saffron powder is smeared on her by another woman wearing a red scarf. The video also shows the woman being pushed into what seems like a pond.
One such user on X (formerly Twitter) shared the video (archived here) with the caption, "A group of Muslims capture a Hindu girl in Bangladesh, insult her, and then drown her. Where are the eyes of the world? Save Hindus from Genocide in Bangladesh." The post was shared over 36,000 times on X, garnering around 71,000 likes. Archived versions of similar claims are here and here.
However, Logically Facts found that the claim is false, and the woman seen in the viral video is actually from the Muslim community, not Hindu. She was targeted due to her association with the Chhatra League, a student wing of the former ruling party in Bangladesh, the Awami League.
What did we find?
A reverse image search of the viral clip led us to a video posted on YouTube by a channel (archived here) named "Rongdhonu" on August 8, 2024, which had the same visuals. The caption written in Bengali roughly translates to, "Chhatra league woman leader thrashed by crowd | after the government fell, Chhatra league male and female leaders are in a helpless state." A similar video was also shared on Facebook (archived here) with the caption stating that it was recorded in Brahmanbaria, a city in Bangladesh, and noting that the woman in the viral video is linked to the Chhatra League.
Another video posted on Facebook (archived here) had similar visuals from the same incident. Here, a woman wearing a red scarf — also seen in the viral clip — can be seen searching through a pink handbag, which she snatches from the woman in black in the middle. The video also shows the woman in the red scarf removing items from the bag and displaying them to the camera. These items include a polling agent card with the name "Afsana Ibad" written on it in Bengali, which indicates that the woman in black is a Muslim, not Hindu.
Logically Facts then contacted Pijush Kranti Acharya, Eastern Regional Bureau chief, ATN News, who confirmed, "The woman is a member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Brahmanbaria District branch. She belongs to the Muslim community."
Current unrest in Bangladesh
Months of unrest in Bangladesh, which started as student protests against a quota system and evolved into anti-government protests, resulted in at least 560 deaths as of August 14.
A murder case was filed on August 13 against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled the country on August 5. The formation of an interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is expected to change circumstances in the country.
Reports have also emerged of attacks faced by Hindus in their homes and businesses in Bangladesh. The Indian Express report noted that around 200 incidents of Hindus being targets have emerged across 52 districts in the country, following which the interim government has pledged action.
The verdict
A video from Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, showing a Chhatra League member being attacked has been misrepresented with an incorrect narrative. The woman seen in the clip belongs to the Muslim community.
With inputs from Mohammad Salman
(This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. ABP Live has edited the headline and feature image of the report while republishing)