Claim of arson at Khagrachhari Model Mosque entirely false: CA Press Wing

The Chief Adviser's Press Wing today (28 September) dismissed a viral claim that the Khagrachhari Model Mosque was set ablaze during recent unrest in the district as "entirely false".

In a Facebook Post, the CA Press Wing said the video being circulated on social media actually shows an unrelated incident in Dinajpur. The footage, which carried the logo of news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB), was traced back to an attack on the "Jibon Mahal" amusement park resort in Dinajpur town on 28 August.

According to UNB's official description, the resort was vandalised and torched by members of "Touhidi Janata" amid allegations of immoral activities.

The press wing also cited a Prothom Alo report, which said at least 12 people, including a journalist, were injured in that attack. Earlier, on 17 August, a mobile court had raided the same park, sentencing seven individuals to varying jail terms and fining its owner Tk100,000.

It also quoted local journalists, confirming that no mosque in Khagrachhari's Guimara upazila had been attacked. "The claim that the Khagrachhari Model Mosque was set on fire is false. The mosque is still under construction and not yet in use."

Tensions in Khagrachhari escalated after protests by "Jumma Chhatra Janata" over the reported gang rape of a teenage girl from the hill community. The demonstrations led to road blockades, clashes, and counter-chases, prompting the district administration to impose Section 144.

The circulation of the Dinajpur video as evidence of arson at the Khagrachhari mosque was a deliberate attempt to spread confusion during the unrest, according to the press wing.