Summary:
- A student clash in Dhaka on November 25, 2024, involved three colleges and resulted in over 100 injuries.
- The incident was misrepresented on social media as anti-Hindu violence by some Indian accounts.
- Investigations confirmed the clash was not religiously motivated but stemmed from student tensions.
- Authorities are working to correct misinformation and manage the situation in the affected areas.
A recent incident in Dhaka has been misrepresented on social media as a religious conflict, highlighting the dangers of misinformation. The clash, which occurred on November 25, 2024, involved students from three colleges in Dhaka’s Demra area: Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, and Kabi Nazrul Government College. This altercation resulted in injuries to over 100 students and was initially portrayed by some Indian social media accounts as anti-Hindu violence.
The clash began around noon and lasted for approximately four hours, turning the area into a battleground. According to eyewitnesses and police reports, students from Suhrawardy College and Kabi Nazrul College gathered near Mollah College, leading to a violent confrontation that included vandalism and looting. The incident disrupted local traffic and necessitated the deployment of law enforcement, including the Border Guard Bangladesh, to restore order.
Despite claims circulating online, investigations have clarified that the conflict was not religiously motivated. It stemmed from ongoing tensions between the student bodies of these institutions. The spread of misinformation was exacerbated by social media posts from various accounts in India, including those of political figures such as Suvendu Adhikari, a BJP legislator from West Bengal. These posts falsely depicted the incident as an attack on Hindus.
Authorities and local media have worked to correct these narratives. A reverse image search confirmed that the video circulating online was indeed from the student clash in Dhaka and not related to any religious violence. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have been involved in managing the aftermath and ensuring security in the affected areas.
This incident underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media platforms. It also highlights the potential for local disputes to be misinterpreted or manipulated for broader political agendas, emphasizing the need for responsible communication and reporting.
Source: Daily Janakhatha
