CA Press Wing denounces fake social media posts by Pro-AL figures on Gopalganj unrest

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has accused key pro-Awami League (AL) figures of circulating false information regarding violent clashes in Gopalganj on July 16. According to a statement released Wednesday, several social media accounts linked to the banned Awami League shared old and unrelated images to misrepresent the situation.

The press wing said the misinformation campaign aimed to shape public perception by falsely portraying events of the day. “A coordinated effort by prominent pro-AL individuals shared multiple images claiming to show scenes from the recent unrest, but these were either from earlier incidents or unrelated events,” the statement said.

Among those named were former Chhatra League leader S.M. Jakir Hossain and Sheikh Hasina’s former press aide Ashraful Alam Khokan. The duo allegedly posted photos suggesting that opposition activists and the so-called “Yunus gang” were violently attacking civilians.

One widely circulated image showed a wounded teenager being carried by locals amid fires and protests. However, reverse image searches revealed the photo was from an incident on August 10, 2024.

Another post shared by Jakir Hossain and Khokan showed a Detective Branch officer firing live rounds at demonstrators. This image was actually from a BNP rally in Narayanganj on December 8, 2022, involving DB official Kanak.

Jakir Hossain also posted a photo of severely injured people receiving hospital treatment, claiming these injuries resulted from the Gopalganj clashes. The press wing clarified this image was from March 20, 2023, unrelated to the current unrest.

In addition, a photo of a child holding a stick circulated widely with claims it showed a minor involved in the Gopalganj protests. The press wing said the image was taken from a video recorded in August 2023 in Safipur, Gazipur, and was not connected to the recent events. An AI-enhanced version of the photo was reportedly shared by Awami League supporter Nijhum Majumder.

The pro-AL social media network also spread unsubstantiated claims that the Bangladesh Army fired indiscriminately on civilians. The press wing dismissed these allegations, stating verified reports contradicted the narrative.

The clashes began after Awami League and Chhatra League supporters attacked a convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders leaving a scheduled rally. The violence quickly escalated, with police and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) vehicles attacked and set on fire.

Following the unrest, authorities imposed a strict curfew in Gopalganj from 8 pm on July 16 until 6 pm the next day.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing concluded by condemning the spread of misleading, out-of-context, and manipulated images on social media, urging the public to rely on verified information.