False Claims, Hate Rhetoric and Cross Border Propaganda in September 2025
September saw a flood of falsehoods from fake communal killings and recycled idol vandalism to AI hate videos and mob violence, weaponizing religion to divide Bangladesh and India.
সেপ্টেম্বরে বাংলাদেশ ও ভারতে গুজব, ভুয়া খবর ও ঘৃণার রাজনীতি নতুন মাত্রা পেয়েছে। চট্টগ্রাম-খুলনার মিথ্যা হত্যার গল্প, জয়পুরহাটের পুরনো ছবি, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের হিজাব বিতর্ক থেকে শুরু করে ভারতে বজরং দলের হামলা-- সবই দেখিয়ে দিচ্ছে, ধর্মকে কীভাবে বিভক্তি আর রাজনীতির অস্ত্র বানানো হচ্ছে।
From fabricated reports of communal killings in Chattogram and Khulna, to recycled images of idol vandalism in Joypurhat, to false claims about hijab slogans at Dhaka University, September 2025 recorded 15 notable cases of disinformation and hate-driven propaganda in Bangladesh and India. In Bangladesh, misleading communal narratives spread through false reports and recycled incidents, while across the border, extremist rhetoric, hate-driven campaigns, and violent attacks by groups like Bajrang Dal further deepened mistrust.
This Insighta report examines how these cases of propaganda, false claims, and inflammatory narratives were strategically weaponized throughout the month. By tracing incidents from both countries, it highlights how disinformation and hate speech were used to distort reality, polarize communities, and advance political agendas across the subcontinent.
False Communal Claim on Woman’s Suicide in Chattogram
September 4: Several Hindutva-linked accounts claimed a Hindu woman in Chattogram, Bangladesh died due to Muslim harassment or murder.
Police and media investigations confirmed that the woman’s death was the result of suicide following a family dispute. CCTV footage captured her writing a note before taking her life, while officers recovered a diary containing the suicide note, later verified by national outlets. Authorities ruled out any communal motives or foul play.
False Claim of Minority Killing in Khulna
September 8: Social media posts alleging that a Hindu woman in Khulna was killed over a cow dispute as part of minority persecution have been debunked. Fact-checks reveal that both the victim and the accused belonged to the same Hindu community and were engaged in a land dispute. The woman died after being assaulted during the altercation, with investigators confirming it was a local conflict rather than an incident of communal violence.
Hindutva pages misrepresent ‘Hijab’ Slogans at Dhaka University
September 10: Several Hindutva-linked pages, including Hindu Voice, circulated a video alleging that Muslim students at Dhaka University demanded mandatory hijab, framing it as a “direct threat” to Hindu girls. Fact-checkers, however, have confirmed the claim to be false.
Fact-checker Shohanur Rahman clarified that the chants of “Hijab, Hijab” at Dhaka University were not calls to impose a dress code, but a show of solidarity following the landslide victory of DUCSU executive member Sabikun Nahar Tamanna, who wears the hijab and niqab. Rahman noted that during her campaign, one of Tamanna’s photos was maliciously distorted online, an act widely viewed as targeted hatred against hijabi-niqabi women. Students raised the slogan after her win as a response to that hostility, he explained.
Crime Statistics Misrepresented as Anti-Hindu Violence in Bangladesh
September 10: A screenshot of a Bangladeshi news headline, translated into English as “2,616 murders in 8 months, 15,000 women and children abused: Interim Government,” circulated on X with captions such as, “Finally they admitted – what’s happening against Hindus in Bangladesh. #SaveBangladeshiHindus.” The posts misleadingly framed the statistics as evidence of violence against Hindus.
Fact-checks, however, show the figures represent nationwide crime data between 2020 and August 2025, encompassing all communities rather than targeting any specific group.
Indian Hindutva Priest Calls for Hindu-Only Nation
September 11: A video has emerged of Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand urging the establishment of a “Hindu-only nation” and calling for the removal of mosques, madrasas, and Muslims.
Addressing a gathering of saffron-clad men, Narsinghanand claimed: “Christians have over 100 countries, Muslims have 57, and Jews have one. We are 100 crore Hindus with not even one state.”
Indian MP Tharoor Said Shibir’s DUCSU Win a Worrying Portent
September 12: Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has described the sweeping victory of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls as a “worrying portent” for India, noting it marks the first Islamist control of the body since 1971.
In an opinion piece for NDTV, Tharoor wrote: “For many, it’s just a student election in a foreign country. But for New Delhi, this is not just a blip, it is a worrying portent of things to come, a political tremor whose aftershocks could soon be felt on our side of the border.”
Responding to Tharoor’s remarks, Sarba Mitra Chakma, an ethnic and religious minority student elected as an executive member from the Shibir-backed panel, dismissed the concerns. “Bangladesh has nothing to fear. Neither does India if it does not have any nefarious intentions,” Chakma said. He noted that Muslim students had overwhelmingly supported his candidacy and argued, “Lynching people for religious differences is extremely rare in Bangladesh, unlike in India.”
Chakma rejected portrayals of Shibir’s victory as Islamist, claiming Tharoor’s warnings echoed ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s narrative aimed at delegitimizing democratic choices. He also invited Tharoor to visit Dhaka University and explain “why their democratic choice worries him and, by extension, the Indian establishment.”
Bajrang Dal Attacks Christians in India’s Chhattisgarh
September 14: Bajrang Dal activists, led by Jyoti Sharma, allegedly stormed the Shilo Prayer Tower in Durg, accusing Christian evangelists of conducting forced conversions. Witnesses said the pastor was assaulted with an iron rod before police intervened.
Congregants reported that the mob attacked them without provocation, while Bajrang Dal leaders countered that their workers, including women, were assaulted first. Police confirmed receiving complaints from both sides and said an investigation is underway.
BJP Assam Posts AI-Generated Video Targeting Muslims
September 15: A video posted on the official X account of BJP Assam has drawn outrage, with critics accusing the party of vilifying Muslims and fueling communal hatred.
The AI-generated clip portrays Muslims as illegal immigrants grabbing government land. Many condemned it as inflammatory and dangerous.
Imam Assaulted for Refusing to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in India
September 20: An imam in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district was allegedly assaulted and told to “go to Pakistan” after refusing to chant “Jai Shri Ram.”
The incident took place in Bulakgarhi village under Lodha police station, according to media reports, when Mohammed Mustakeem was returning home after conducting Urdu classes for local children.
Mumbai Manhole Theft Falsely Linked to Bangladeshi
September 23: A video circulating on social media claimed that a Bangladeshi man, Sheikh Nazrul, was caught stealing manhole covers in Mumbai, with users alleging that Bangladeshis were damaging India’s economy.
However, investigations by The Dissent and Times Now identified the suspect as Amarjit Kamati, a local resident of Andheri West, who was arrested on August 29. Police confirmed no Bangladeshi national was involved, debunking the viral claim.
False Claim of Idol Vandalism in Joypurhat
September 24: Ahead of Durga Puja, Facebook posts claimed idols were vandalized in Joypurhat.
Fact-checks confirm the photos are old, first shared in September 2021 after two temples in Shuktahar, Joypurhat were attacked. Media reports from 2021 confirmed police arrested Shamsul Alam Mondol (alias Lal Babu, 35) in that case.
Misleading Claim About A Raped Hindu girl in Bangladesh
September 25: A post circulating on social media claimed that schoolgirl Purnima Das was recently raped and murdered in Satkhira, alleging that Hindu women are being targeted in Bangladesh.
Fact-checking shows the incident actually occurred on September 23, 2021. At the time, it was widely reported in the media. Police arrested Purnima’s boyfriend, Partha Mandal, a Hindu man, who was the sole accused. He reportedly lured, raped, and strangled her, then tried to flee to India. No other individuals were involved in the incident.
False Claim of Muslims Praying in a Bangladesh Temple
September 27: A Facebook video claimed Muslims were offering prayers inside a Hindu temple in Bangladesh.
Verification shows the video is from the Lat Bhairav temple premises in Varanasi, India, where Ramleela takes place on one side and Muslims pray on the other as part of a tradition of communal harmony. Indian media Amar Ujala and local news accounts confirmed this annual practice.
India Today’s Misleading Report on Khagrachhari Violence
September 29: India Today falsely claimed the Bangladesh Army fired on Hindus and Buddhists protesting rape and temple attacks.
In reality, the clashes in Khagrachhari stemmed from protests over a rape allegation, with blockades and stone-pelting leading to violence between protesters and security forces.
A medical test found “no signs of rape” in the Marma girl. Besides, no Hindu or Buddhist temples were attacked, nor did the Army fire on religious minorities, according to fact-check.
Dead Muslim Woman Misrepresented as Hindu in Bangladesh
September 29: Police recovered the body of a young woman from a rented house in Maijdee, Noakhali, sparking false claims on Facebook that the victim was a Hindu woman named Sumi Rani.
Investigations later confirmed the deceased as Sadia Israt, also known as Mim, a Muslim. According to a report in Prothom Alo, she had married for love and moved into the rented house with her husband about a month earlier.
About the Author:
Mohammed Raihan is a staff contributor to the Insighta. He writes on history, culture, language, economy and geopolitics, uncovering untold narratives that connect the past and present. He can be reached at mohammed_raihan@theinsighta.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Insighta’s editorial stance. However, any errors in the stated facts or figures may be corrected if supported by verifiable evidence. | A guest post by
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