Fact Check: Bangladesh Shrine Being Demolished In Viral Video Is Not Hindu Temple But A Mazar

A video of a vandalised Muslim shrine in Bangladesh was falsely shared as the demolition of a Hindu temple, sparking communal tensions.

Social media posts claim a Hindu temple was demolished in Bangladesh.

Source : X/Modified by Logically Facts

The Verdict [False]

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A video of a Muslim shrine’s vandalism in Bangladesh was falsely shared as depicting the demolition of a Hindu temple amid communal tensions.

What is the claim?

A video circulating online claims that a Hindu temple was demolished in Bangladesh. The video surfaced amid ongoing tensions following the arrest of a Hindu religious leader in the country. The footage shows a mob vandalizing the walls and tin roof of a structure with sticks.

Numerous social media users shared the video, alleging it depicts Bangladeshis attacking a Hindu temple. One user on X wrote, "See how Hindu temples were vandalized and Hindu devotees were beaten up in different cities of Bangladesh yesterday. But the whole world is silent on the massacre of Hindus in Bangladesh. #SaveBangladeshiHindus #YunusTheButcher." Archived versions of such posts can be accessed here, here, and here.

Screenshots of the social media posts. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, our investigation revealed that the viral video actually shows the demolition of the shrine of Ali Khwaza, also known as Ali Pagol, a Muslim saint, rather than a Hindu temple.

How did we find the truth?

A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video revealed that similar footage was shared on Facebook in August 2024 (archived here). Captions identified the site as the mazar of Ali Pagol. A mazar is a tomb or shrine built over the grave of a revered Muslim saint or leader.

Reports corroborate that Ali Pagol, or Ali Khwaza, was a spiritual leader who served at the local mosque for a decade before his death in 2004. After his passing, his followers constructed the mazar, which became the site of an annual Islamic gathering called Orosh.

The Metro TV news portal published a video report (archived here) on August 29, 2024, showing the same footage as the viral posts. The report identified the location as Ali Pagol mazar in Kazipur, Sirajganj.

Local media outlets reported that Gholam Rabbani, the imam (a Muslim religious leader) of Shalgram Jame Masjid, allegedly led the mob responsible for the vandalism. Rabbani accused the shrine of being associated with drug activity and incited over 100 individuals to destroy it using hammers, spades, and shovels. Following the incident, villagers dismissed Rabbani as imam, criticizing him for disrespecting another Muslim’s grave.

Contrary to the viral claims, no reports indicated Hindu involvement in the incident. On the contrary, villagers protested against the vandalism, chanting, "You are who I am, Muslim is Muslim."

News reports also featured screenshots from the viral video. The Bangladeshi media outlet Kaler Kontho reported that Kazipur police station officer-in-charge Shahidul Islam had taken cognizance of the vandalism at the shrine.

The verdict

The viral video shows the vandalism of a Muslim shrine in Bangladesh, not the demolition of a Hindu temple. The claims circulating on social media are false.

This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.