A video of a massive fire in a shop goes viral on social media. While sharing the video users claim that “Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh… In Laxmipur, the shop of a Hindu shopkeeper, Rajan Chandra, has been burnt to ashes… Rajan Chandra and his family are in agony and wailing as their shop, their only source of livelihood burns to ashes”.
Fact Check
On investigation, DFRAC found many media reports regarding this video uploaded on 11 July 2024. According to bd-bulletin “According to local sources, the fire took place on the south side of the market immediately after Fajr prayers. Immediately after this, the fire service was informed. But fire service people did not come in time—meanwhile, the fire spread. Later, the fire service came and brought the fire under control. Earlier, 15 shops were burnt to ashes in the fire”.
Furthermore, we also found a report from Sonbadprokash stating “Affected businessmen Julhas, Sabuj Mia, and Sumon said that they closed their businesses at night and went home. They got the news early in the morning that there was a fire in the market. Later, they saw that the shops were burnt to ashes. Several crores of rupees have been lost. Many are doing business with loans. It’s all over now. They cannot move forward without government support”.
Conclusion
It is evident from the DFRAC’s fact check that this video is from 11 July 2024 before the violence in Bangladesh and has nothing to do with the ongoing violence. Therefore, the claim of social media users is misleading.
