Pro-AL figures circulate false narratives over Gopalganj clashes: CA press wing

Chief Adviser's Press Wing today said key pro-Awami League (AL) figures circulated false narratives surrounding violent clashes erupted in Gopalganj by posting multiple old and unrelated images in social media platforms.

"On July 16, social media platforms saw a wave of posts from accounts affiliated with the banned Awami League (AL), aimed at shaping the narrative surrounding violent clashes that erupted in Gopalganj earlier in the day," the press wing said in a statement.

The statement was shared at the press wing's verified Facebook page - CA Press Wing Facts.

It said a coordinated propaganda effort involving key pro-AL figures circulated multiple old and unrelated images, falsely claiming they depicted scenes from the day's unrest.

Key figures including former Chhatra League leader S.M. Jakir Hossain and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's former press aide Ashraful Alam Khokan posted images alleging that the "Yunus gang" and opposition activists were violently attacking civilians, according to the statement. 

One image depicted a wounded teenager being carried by locals as fires blazed in the background, with agitated crowds protesting in the street. The photo was presented as visual evidence of the brutality unfolding in Gopalganj.

"However, reverse image searches confirmed that this particular image was from an earlier incident that took place on August 10, 2024," the statement read. 

In another widely shared post, Jakir Hossain and Ashraful Alam Khokan —former Deputy Press Secretary to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — posted a photo of a Detective Branch (DB) officer firing live rounds toward demonstrators. 

The posts falsely suggested that the image depicted today's law enforcement response to violence allegedly triggered by NCP members, the statement said. 

"In reality, the image is from a completely separate incident that occurred on December 8, 2022, during a BNP rally in Narayanganj. The officer shown in the photo, DB official Kanak, was seen firing into the crowd during that event."

Jakir Hossain also posted another image, this time showing severely injured individuals being treated in a hospital. That photo was also shared with the claim that the injuries were sustained during today's clashes in Gopalganj.

"However, this photo too was unrelated. It was actually taken on March 20, 2023, during a completely different incident," the press wing claimed. 

As part of the same disinformation campaign, a photo of a child holding a stick was circulated widely, with claims that it was taken in Gopalganj on July 16 and showed a minor involved in violent protest. 

The image was used to suggest that children were being mobilised for political violence. Notably, a digitally enhanced version of the photo—apparently AI-generated—was shared by Nijhum Majumder, an active online propagandist affiliated with the Awami League, according to the statement. 

"Contrary to the claims, the photo of the stick-wielding child was not taken in Gopalganj, nor was it from July 16. It was actually a screenshot taken from a video recorded in the Safipur area of Gazipur. The original footage had already been circulating on social media since August 2023," it said. 

In addition to these misleading images, pro-AL accounts also spread baseless claims that the Bangladesh Army had opened fire indiscriminately on civilians. 

These narratives aimed to falsely shift public opinion. However, reports from the ground and verified sources tell a different story, according to the press wing. 

Today's violence in Gopalganj erupted after Awami League and Chhatra League supporters attacked the convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP) central leaders as they were leaving the town following a scheduled rally. 

The attacks quickly escalated into chaos involving intense clashes between law enforcement and AL-affiliated groups. 

According to the media reports,  a police vehicle and a vehicle belonging to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) were both attacked and set on fire. 

As the situation spiraled out of control, a strict curfew was imposed in Gopalganj from 8 pm on July 16 to 6 pm the following day. 

"Despite the real events on the ground, the pro-Awami League social media ecosystem attempted to flood timelines with misleading, out-of-context, and deliberately manipulated images," the statement read.