Gangs exploit fake news to stir political turmoil
Syed Shemul Parvez :
A coordinated group is actively disseminating misinformation on social media platforms, including Facebook, to create unrest across the country and serve the interests of a particular faction.
Additionally, some political analysts claim that a section of individuals is engaging in criminal activities such as robbery, snatching, murder, and rape to exert pressure on the interim government.
Recently, an old video has resurfaced on social media, showing a group of young men brutally assaulting several women for being outside without wearing hijabs.
However, after thorough verification by experts and fact-checkers, it was confirmed that the incident in the footage is not recent but rather dates back to August 2024.
Despite this, certain individuals, identified as supporters of “fascist Hasina,” are allegedly exploiting the video to spread rumours against the interim government and law enforcement agencies.
They claim that women from minority communities are being subjected to widespread harassment and violence.
In an attempt to draw international attention, these groups have also shared the misleading video with captions written in English.
Some political commentators believe that these incidents are being orchestrated and financed by groups loyal to “fascist Hasina” with the intention of discrediting the current government.
Meanwhile, law enforcement has taken action, arresting a suspect, Md Russell Hossain, aged 30, for his involvement in acts of violence against women in the Shyamoli Square area of the capital.
According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch’s Cyber Crime Unit, he was apprehended in the Motijheel area on Monday. Circulating videos showed Russell engaging in aggressive behaviour towards women in the Shyamoli Square area.
In a separate incident, police detained a man on Monday after footage of him surfaced on social media, depicting him committing misogynistic acts while pretending to be mentally ill.
Officers from Savar Police Station arrested Khalid Mahmud, also known as Ridoy Khan, from Madhyapara in Aminbazar, Savar, around 4:00 pm, as per a statement released by Dhaka District Police.
Several videos from Khalid Mahmud’s social media account show him harassing young girls and women in public spaces, making derogatory remarks, and dictating what they should wear.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, another video went viral, showing Lakshmipur Merchants’ Association leader Abdul Aziz forcing two elderly individuals to sit outside a hotel while holding their ears as punishment for eating during fasting hours.
The incident occurred on Thana Road in the city, where Aziz was seen wielding a stick.
Another widely shared video captured a young woman tying up and beating a suspected mugger near Dhaka’s Kajla footbridge.
The footage, which gained traction on Facebook, shows bystanders encouraging the woman as she repeatedly strikes the restrained man with a belt, demanding he confesses.
The suspect insists he was merely eating khichuri, but the woman refutes this, claiming she was the one distributing the dish in the area earlier that evening.
Meanwhile, at least ten more individuals have been assaulted by mobs in separate incidents across Dhaka on suspicion of being thieves and muggers. The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital following attacks reported in Jatrabari, Motijheel, Chawkbazar, and Bhatara.
Addressing the surge in misinformation on social media, DMP Additional Commissioner and DB Chief Rezaul Karim Mallik urged the public to refrain from believing or spreading rumours and fake news.
He assured that law enforcement is taking decisive steps to combat such activities, citing the recent arrests of Russell for violence against women in Shyamoli and Khalid Mahmud for misogyny under the guise of mental illness.
Regular police operations are ongoing to curb such crimes, he added.
Notably, Bangladesh has witnessed a concerning rise in sexual violence in recent days.
At least seven brutal rape cases have been reported across different regions of the country in the past few days.
Among the most distressing incidents is the arrest of a father in Dhaka for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter, sparking outrage and intensifying concerns over the growing prevalence of such horrific crimes.
As authorities scramble to tackle the crisis, citizens remain on edge, demanding immediate and effective action.