Staff Correspondent

Fact-checking body Rumor Scanner in an investigation has debunked a video shared on social media claiming Muslims are attacking a Hindu event.

In a report published on its website on Saturday, the fact checking watchdog said recently, a scene of an attack and vandalism was shared on social media claiming, “Muslims attacked a Hindu event in Bangladesh.”

The Rumor Scanner team's investigation revealed that the circulated video is not of a scene of Muslims attack on a Hindu event, but rather it is a scene of an attack on a Milad Mahfil, Doa and Sama Qawwali event of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (RA) in Mymensingh.

It said when the facebook post shared with the controversial claim was examined, no reliable evidence was found in support of the controversial claim.

Further investigation found a post on a Facebook account named Salman Sadiq Shawon on January 9 last. Comparing the video attached to the post with the video shared, similarities were found.

The caption of the post about the video says, “The 119th Milad Mahfil, Doa and Sama Qawwali program of Hazrat Shahsufi Syed Kalu Shah (RA) was going on at Thanaghat in Mymensingh. This event is held every year here. The OC and police members of the police station located next to it ran and turned off the sound and pushed the artists and technicians off the stage. All on a sudden, agitated Huzoors came running like rain. They crushed them and left within a minute. However, the audience did not hurt anyone.”

In addition, a news report published on January 9 with a screenshot taken from the said video is also available on the website of the mainstream media MyTV. The news report titled “Attack and vandalism on Qawali program in Mymensingh” states, “An attack and vandalism occurred at the Milad Mahfil, Doa and Qawali program of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (RA) in Mymensingh Sadar. The incident took place on the banks of the Brahmaputra River at Thanaghat in the city around 9:30 pm on Wednesday (January 8). The video of the attack went viral on social media around 11 pm, causing a huge public reaction. The video shows that more than a hundred people attacked the venue and vandalized the stage, sound system, and more than a hundred chairs.

Artist Mizan Baula, who was conducting the program, said, “Milad Mahfil and Qawali programs have been held here peacefully for the last 45 years. Such an incident has never happened. But this time a group of Huzoors from the Big Mosque Madrasa came and started vandalizing during the program. Several people were injured, and panic spread.”

Kotwali Model Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam Khan said that students of the Jamia Faizur Rahman Madrasa vandalized the Qawwali program at the big mosque. However, the situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police.

He said, “Although chairs and stage were vandalized, there were no reports of serious injuries. The reason behind the incident is being investigated.” Tension prevails in the area surrounding the incident. Locals have condemned such an attack on this long-running traditional program and demanded punishment for the culprits.”

A news report was also published on the website of the Daily Ittefaq on January 9, along with the scene of the same incident, where the same information is known. In addition, a news report published on January 14 in the national daily Prothom Alo also revealed the same information, along with the same information, that the district administration has imposed Section 144 in the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (RA) in the Thanaghat area of Mymensingh Nagar.

Therefore, the footage of the attack on the Milad Mahfil, Doa and Sama Qawwali ceremony of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (RA) in Mymensingh has been circulated claiming that it was a footage of Muslims attack on a Hindu ceremony; which is false.