Islamabad: An investigation by the BBC has exposed the spread of doctored videos and false claims about attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. The misleading content, propagated by right-wing Hindu influencers primarily from India, suggests a campaign to fuel communal unrest by suggesting “genocide” against Hindus by “Islamic extremists.”

According to Kashmir Media Service, the BBC Urdu’s thorough verification process determined that the circulating videos and narratives of violence, including burning buildings and communal attacks, are mostly fabricated or unrelated to the actual events in Bangladesh. For instance, a viral video alleging the torching of a Hindu temple in Chittagong was debunked, revealing the building was an office of the Awami League political party, and the temple was unharmed.

Further investigation has traced the origin of these false claims to accounts linked to Hindu extremist groups in India. Despite the divisive rhetoric, the BBC report highlights acts of solidarity such as Muslim students in Chittagong taking initiatives to protect Hindu temples, demonstrating a stark contrast to the portrayed narrative of religious conflict.

This expose calls for urgent action from the international community and social media companies to address and mitigate the spread of disinformation that threatens communal peace and coexistence in the region.