Propaganda against Bangladesh continues to spread across Indian media platforms. Following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government after the mass student-led uprising on August 5, misinformation flooded social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, along with Indian media outlets such as ‘Republic Bangla.’

This trend has escalated over time, with even reputed Indian media outlets joining the wave of misinformation. News organizations once deemed “responsible” in the international arena have been seen publishing inaccurate reports.

The latest incident involves the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON leader, on charges of sedition and national flag desecration. 

On December 2, ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharaman Das posted on X, alleging that Chinmoy’s lawyer, Romen Roy, was attacked. To lend credibility, he included an image of an injured person in his post.

Indian media swiftly picked up the claim, broadcasting reports suggesting, “Romen Roy’s house was attacked and he was brutally beaten up ahead of his court appearance on Tuesday (December 2).” 

These baseless claims were amplified by social media and echoed in reports by outlets like Zee News, ABP Live, The Wall, Times of India, NDTV, Business Standard, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, and India Today.

Fact-Checking organization report
Fact-checking organizations Rumor Scanner and FactWatch verified these reports and found them to be false. According to FactWatch, Chinmoy Krishna Das’ legal documents list Subhasis Sharma, not Romen Roy, as his lawyer. FactWatch contacted Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of the Chattogram District Bar Association, who confirmed that no lawyer named Romen Roy exists in their records. He reiterated that the claims made by Indian media are inaccurate.

Rumor Scanner also debunked the misinformation, revealing that the injured individual in the circulated photo is indeed a lawyer named Romen Roy but has no connection to Chinmoy’s case. The report clarified that Romen Roy was injured during an attack on a rally in Shahbagh on November 25, organized to protest Chinmoy’s arrest. There is no evidence of any attack on his residence.

Gouranga Das, a representative of the Sanatan Jagaran Jote, also confirmed that Indian media presented a distorted narrative. He emphasized that while Romen Roy was injured on November 25, he is not involved in Chinmoy Krishna Das’ legal case.

False Claims of Temple Attacks in Bangladesh
In another instance of misinformation, a verified X account of RT India shared a video on December 2, alleging that a Hindu temple in Bangladesh was attacked, and idols were vandalized. The video gained traction across Indian media and social platforms.

However, Rumor Scanner’s investigation revealed that the video was actually from an event in Sultanpur, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal. It showed a moment from a pre-immersion ritual during Kali Puja celebrations, not any temple attack in Bangladesh.

Such fabricated reports not only tarnish Bangladesh’s image but also undermine the credibility of Indian media outlets deemed trustworthy. Fact-checking organizations urge greater scrutiny and responsibility in reporting, particularly in sensitive cross-border contexts.

BDST: 1456 HRS, DEC 05, 2024
MSK