In the midst of escalating protests in Bangladesh, a viral claim on social media incorrectly identified the burning of a cricketer’s home as belonging to Liton Das, a prominent Bangladeshi Hindu cricketer. This misinformation has spread widely, but fact-checking reveals a different reality.
The Incident
Protests erupted in Bangladesh in July 2024, initially focused on civil service job quotas but quickly expanding to demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The situation worsened, leading to violent clashes and Hasina’s resignation on August 5, 2024. Amid this chaos, a house was set on fire, and images of the destruction began circulating online.
Viral Misinformation
On August 5, 2024, an Indian social media account shared an image of the burning house, claiming it belonged to Bangladeshi cricketer Liton Das. The post was viewed over 1.4 million times and falsely asserted that the fire was the result of anti-government violence targeting Hindus. Another account, identifying itself as a “proud Indian,” echoed these claims, further spreading the misinformation.
Fact-Checking the Claim
A reverse image search and subsequent investigation revealed that the house in question was not Liton Das’s but that of Mashrafe Mortaza, a former Bangladeshi cricketer turned politician. Mortaza, a member of the Awami League and the parliamentarian for the Narail-2 constituency, had his residence targeted amid the unrest.
Reports from United News of Bangladesh, Firstpost, and The Munsif Daily confirmed that the damaged property belonged to Mortaza. These outlets reported the incident accurately, emphasizing that the misinformation about Das’s property was misleading.
The viral posts attributing the burning of a house to Liton Das are false. The true victim was Mashrafe Mortaza, a prominent politician and former cricketer. This case highlights the critical importance of verifying information before sharing, especially in times of political and social unrest. The fact-checking efforts, in partnership with iVerify Pakistan and supported by CEJ and UNDP, aim to clarify these misrepresentations and prevent further spread of false information.
