Following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina regime, widespread violence erupted across the country. During this period, numerous false posts began circulating on social media in India, alleging that Hindus in Bangladesh were being subjected to severe persecution.
The BBC’s fact-checking division, BBC Verify, investigated several of these posts that gained traction online. It found that while some attacks on minorities did occur after Hasina’s fall, many of the reports were exaggerated or entirely fabricated.

According to the fact-checkers, many of the misleading posts about the “widespread persecution” of Hindus in Bangladesh originated from various Indian accounts. However, some rumours also spread on social media within Bangladesh itself.

However, some rumors were also spread on social media from within Bangladesh, as noted by the fact-checkers.
They also pointed out that while some attacks on Hindus did occur, houses were also vandalised and burned in Muslim communities.
In many cases, the attacks were targeted at Awami League leaders and supporters rather than at individuals based on their religious identity. In these instances, the political identity of the individuals often overshadowed their religious identity, leading to the attacks.

Some Awami League leaders and supporters from Bangladesh who fled to India or attempted to flee confirmed that both Hindu and Muslim Awami League leaders’ homes were attacked. However, fact-checkers believe that from India, these events were given a communal colour rather than being portrayed as politically motivated.
The BBC’s fact-checking division, BBC Verify, reached a similar conclusion.
Several viral posts claimed that Hindu temples were attacked. One such post caught the attention of a protester named Mr Moinul in Chattogram. When BBC Verify contacted him, he was guarding the “Shree Shree Sita Kali Mata Temple” near Chattogram.

Hours earlier, Sheikh Hasina had fled the country. Mr Moinul said, “It is our responsibility to protect them. We will protect all government establishments, temples, churches – everything.”
He added that the posts circulating online do not match the reality he witnessed.  “Those posts present a false image of Bangladesh to the world.”
After the widespread violence and killings of protesters, it was not surprising that protesters and opposition members became enraged when Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

At that time, police were absent throughout Bangladesh as the police stations were attacked. Consequently, looting and violence began in the homes of Awami League leaders and supporters.
However, it was also observed that ordinary citizens were looted, and some were even victims of violence.
BBC Verify believes that the widespread violence created a sense of fear among the Hindu minority community.
Fake news spread from India

During a chaotic situation, ultra-right-wing Indian influencers took advantage by sharing misleading videos that made it appear as though Hindus in Bangladesh were being persecuted.
Moreover, rumours were spread that student protesters were “Islamic extremists.” ‘Brandwatch,’ an app that monitors social media, found that after 4 August, false stories were spread using a hashtag that was mentioned 700,000 times on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). It was also found that almost all the accounts from which these trending posts were made were located in India.
Fake news of burning Hindu homes and temples

A post went viral on social media claiming that the house of “Hindu cricketer” Litton Das was burned down.
Other accounts shared the post, claiming that extremist Islamists had set fire to his house.
However, it is now known that the house falsely claimed to have been burned belonged to former captain of the Bangladesh national team, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
Another viral post claimed that an “Islamic mob” attacked a temple in Bangladesh.

A video of a fire near the “Nabagraha Temple” in Chattogram was shared, but it was clear that the fire did not occur at the temple.
BBC Verify received pictures showing that the temple was not damaged. However, it seemed that an Awami League office behind the temple was the actual target.
Swapan Das, a temple official, told the BBC that the party office was ransacked, and chairs and tables were taken out and set on fire behind the temple on the afternoon of 5 August 2024.
Several pictures taken after the fire showed that posters with pictures of Awami League leaders were also burned.
Swapan also stated that people are guarding the temple around the clock.