Gopalganj: Chief Adviser’s Press Wing today said key pro-Awami League (AL) figures circulated false narratives surrounding violent clashes erupted in Gopalganj by posting multiple old and unrelated images on social media platforms.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the press wing revealed in a statement that on July 16, social media accounts linked to the banned Awami League (AL) began disseminating posts intended to shape the narrative around the violent clashes that erupted in Gopalganj earlier that day. This statement was shared on the press wing’s verified Facebook page, CA Press Wing Facts.
The statement highlighted a coordinated propaganda effort by key pro-AL figures who circulated multiple old and unrelated images, falsely claiming they depicted scenes from the day’s unrest. Among those involved were former Chhatra League leader S.M. Jakir Hossain and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s former press aide, Ashraful Alam Khokan. They posted images alleging that the ‘Yunus gang’ and opposition activists were violently attacking civilians.
One of the images showed a wounded teenager being carried by locals amidst fires and agitated crowds in the street, presented as evidence of the brutality in Gopalganj. However, reverse image searches confirmed that this image was from an earlier incident on August 10, 2024.
Another widely shared post by Jakir Hossain and Ashraful Alam Khokan depicted a Detective Branch (DB) officer firing live rounds toward demonstrators. The posts falsely suggested that this depicted the current law enforcement response to violence allegedly triggered by NCP members. In reality, the image was from a separate incident on December 8, 2022, during a BNP rally in Narayanganj, involving DB official Kanak.
Jakir Hossain also posted an image of severely injured individuals being treated in a hospital, claiming the injuries were from the Gopalganj clashes. This photo was unrelated and taken during a different incident on March 20, 2023.
As part of the disinformation campaign, a photo of a child holding a stick was circulated with claims it was taken in Gopalganj on July 16, suggesting children were involved in political violence. The photo was actually a screenshot from a video recorded in the Safipur area of Gazipur, circulating on social media since August 2023, and was digitally enhanced by Nijhum Majumder, an Awami League-affiliated online propagandist.
In addition to these misleading images, pro-AL accounts spread baseless claims that the Bangladesh Army had opened fire indiscriminately on civilians, aiming to falsely shift public opinion. Reports from the ground and verified sources tell a different story, according to the press wing.
Today’s violence in Gopalganj erupted after Awami League and Chhatra League supporters attacked the convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP) central leaders as they were leaving the town following a scheduled rally. The attacks escalated into chaos with intense clashes between law enforcement and AL-affiliated groups. A police vehicle and a vehicle belonging to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) were both attacked and set on fire. As the situation spiraled out of control, a strict curfew was imposed in Gopalganj from 8 pm on July 16 to 6 pm the following day.
Despite the real events on the ground, the pro-Awami League social media ecosystem attempted to flood timelines with misleading, out-of-context, and deliberately manipulated images, the statement concluded.