Fact Check /Videos of Murder and 'Abduction' in India Falsely Shared as Evidence of Deteriorating Security Situation in Bangladesh

Two separate videos circulating on social media platforms X and Facebook are being shared with the claim that people in Bangladesh currently have no security. One claim, posted from an X account along with a 15-second video, alleges that Bangladesh has become a "valley of death" and that more people have died there over the past two years than in war-torn Palestine. Another claim, accompanied by a 12-second video, alleges that a Jubo Dal leader abducted a woman in broad daylight in Cox's Bazar.

A review of the comments on these posts shows that most netizens believed the incidents took place in Bangladesh and expressed strong outrage. However, some users questioned the authenticity of the claims.

Ajker Patrika Investigation

An examination of the videos used to support the claims found that, although they were circulated as evidence of Bangladesh's current security situation, no credible sources were provided to substantiate the allegations. The investigation revealed that the videos depict two separate incidents, both of which have been taken out of their original context and falsely presented as recent events in Bangladesh.

'Bangladesh Has Become a Valley of Death'

An X account named 𝐇.𝐌 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡 shared a 15-second video on June 26, claiming: *"Bangladesh has now become a valley of death. No one is safe here, whether at home or outside. Even war-torn Palestine has not seen as many deaths as Bangladesh has witnessed over the past two years."*

The video shows a woman walking along a road when a man suddenly attacks her from behind with a sickle-like weapon, striking her repeatedly.

A keyword search to verify the claim found no reports in Bangladeshi media about such an attack. However, an identical version of the video was found on an Instagram account named **"thelegalsources__"**, where it had been posted on June 15 this year. The post identified the incident as having occurred in Palghar district of Maharashtra, India. The same video and information were also found on another Instagram account.

Further investigation led to a June 13 report published by Indian news outlet News18, titled "Caught On Cam: Maharashtra Government Employee Stabbed Multiple Times In Neck, Back By Colleague." According to the report, 27-year-old government employee Snehal Sawant, who worked in the Revenue Department of the Palghar District Collectorate in Maharashtra, was repeatedly attacked in public with a sharp weapon (an axe) by her colleague, Amol Mule, a court peon. The CCTV footage captured the attack, which reportedly stemmed from a personal dispute or relationship-related issue. The seriously injured woman remains under medical treatment.

In other words, a video of a crime committed in Maharashtra, India, is being falsely circulated as evidence of the security situation in Bangladesh.

Claim of Jubo Dal Leader Abducting a Woman in Cox's Bazar

A Facebook page named "Bornojoy New** shared a 12-second video on June 26 (Friday), claiming that a Jubo Dal leader had abducted a woman in broad daylight in Cox's Bazar. Several other posts have also circulated the same claim.

The viral video shows a young woman being forcibly taken from in front of a grocery store and pushed into a vehicle.

To verify the claim, an investigation found an identical video report published on June 25 on the verified YouTube channel of the Indian English daily The Statesman**, titled **"19 year old woman abducted by father in Gujarat."

A report published by The Times of India on June 25 states that a 19-year-old woman from Vadgam village in Gujarat, India, was allegedly abducted by her father and three other individuals from the home of her live-in partner. A complaint has been filed with the police regarding the incident.

According to the complaint, the young woman and her partner had been in a relationship for nearly two years. They recently signed a live-in agreement and began living together. Her partner claimed that the woman's father strongly opposed the relationship and had previously threatened his family.

The report further states that after receiving the complaint, police formed five separate teams to locate the missing woman and launched an investigation into the incident.

In reality, the incident involved a father forcibly taking his daughter home from her live-in partner's residence in Gujarat, India, against the family's wishes. The incident has been given a political angle and falsely portrayed as having occurred in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.