Dhaka: Fact-checking body Rumor Scanner has conducted an investigation debunking a widely circulated claim that Dr. Asif Nazrul, Law Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, met with Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mufti Harun Izhar following the deadly armed attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the report published by Rumor Scanner on its website indicates that the meeting between Dr. Nazrul and Mufti Harun Izhar actually occurred on April 21, a day before the Kashmir attack. The discussion primarily focused on the withdrawal of "harassment cases" filed against Islamists and Hefazat leaders. This evidence conclusively shows that the meeting took place prior to the Kashmir attack, contrary to claims made on social media and some Indian media outlets.
The attack in Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of at least 26 tourists and injuries to over 20 others on April 22. Following the attack, a photograph began circulating online, purporting to show Dr. Nazrul and Mufti Harun in a meeting, with claims suggesting it occurred after the Kashmir incident. The claim was notably shared by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on his official Facebook page and was echoed by several Indian media outlets.
However, the investigation by Rumor Scanner clarified that the meeting took place on April 21, one day before the attack in Pahalgam. The fact-check revealed that the discussion during the meeting centered on the withdrawal of allegedly politically motivated and harassing legal cases filed against Islamic scholars and Hefazat leaders.
Mufti Harun Izhar, in a post on his Facebook page on April 23, stated that their meeting with the Law Adviser was part of their longstanding commitment to legal humanitarian support for the oppressed, confirming that the photograph was taken during the April 21 meeting.
Further corroborating the timeline, Dr. Asif Nazrul, in a Facebook post dated April 23, mentioned that scholars and religious leaders had been subjected to various forms of persecution, including the filing of false cases under the previous regime. He indicated that a list of such cases was submitted by Hefazat leaders, and steps were being taken to withdraw politically motivated charges, implying the meeting occurred 'a few days ago.'
To verify the exact date and time of the meeting, the Rumor Scanner team analyzed the metadata from several photographs taken during the meeting, including the viral image. The analysis confirmed that the images were captured at 10:49 AM on April 21.