Recent videos depicting burning buildings, violence, and women pleading for help have been circulated online, alleging a “Hindu genocide” in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
The unrest began after student-led protests, which led to over 400 deaths, resulting in Hasina’s government collapsing and her fleeing to India on August 5. Clashes ensued, with violence targeting members of her Awami League party, composed of both Muslim and Hindu members.
Far-right influencers, particularly from India, have spread misleading information and videos, falsely portraying the violence as “Islamist radicals attacking Hindus,” a BBC report says. For example, one viral post claimed that a Hindu temple in Chattogram was set on fire by Islamists. However, BBC Verify confirmed that the Navagraha Temple was unharmed; the fire actually occurred at a nearby Awami League office. Temple staff confirmed the temple was not attacked, though the situation remains tense.
Other debunked posts include false claims about a Hindu cricketer’s house burning down, which actually belonged to a Muslim Awami League MP, and a school fire with political rather than religious motives. These false narratives have been driven by accounts predominantly based in India, which have fuelled misinformation.
Inter-religious tensions in Bangladesh are not new, but they have intensified in the absence of effective law enforcement following Hasina’s departure. Professor Sayeed Al-Zaman, an expert in hate speech and disinformation in Bangladesh, told BBC that the spread of false information exacerbates these tensions, with fear-mongering inflaming the situation further.
Some posts claiming Hindu persecution have spread globally, including by figures like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson—a British far-right activist criticised for making inflammatory posts during the UK riots. One video shared by Robinson, claiming an Islamist attack, was later found to depict a dispute over land ownership rather than religious violence. Local students and residents clarified that the attack was politically motivated and involved both Hindu and Muslim individuals.
Accurate understanding of the situation is complex, as real incidents of violence do exist but are often misrepresented as religious attacks. Reports from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and AFP indicate casualties among both Hindus and Muslims, with political affiliations often intertwined with the violence.
In response to false claims, some Muslim protesters have taken steps to protect Hindu temples, countering attempts to incite conflict. Moinul, a local protester, emphasized their commitment to safeguarding temples and maintaining communal harmony, despite the efforts to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims.