ANI faces backlash for sharing fake news on attack on Hindus in Bangladesh
New Delhi: A video shared by ANI, South Asia's leading news agency, has sparked outrage for spreading misinformation.
The video, initially shared by ANI, has been shared by others later on claiming that a "helpless Hindu father" is pleading for justice for his missing son in Bangladesh.
However, the man in the video, who is seen wearing a skull cap in others photos holding a photo of his son named Mohammad Suny Hawlader, is actually a Muslim.
The protest seen in the video involved several Muslim families demanding justice for their missing relatives. After being called out for the false narrative, ANI deleted the video, but it had already been picked up by right-wing accounts and other media outlets that rely on ANI's feed.
This fake news was first shared by @smitaprakash' s @ANI which they later deleted after getting called out. The video with misleading caption is now shared by Right wing accounts and other media outlets who rely on ANI feed. The man with a skull cap with a photo of his missing… https://t.co/ifa6Qa9JYt pic.twitter.com/rCGjX0JkX3
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 13, 2024
Netizens have questioned how a reputed news agency like ANI could fail to verify the facts before sharing such a sensitive story. While the misleading video has been removed, its impact continues to spread across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, perpetuating the false narrative.
South Asia's leading news agency couldn't verify a news properly before sharing it?
— TIND Posting (@tindposting) August 14, 2024
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
Imagine it got busted here but the news will continue showing on facebook and Instagram feeds.
WhatsApp university would have published a book by now.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bangladesh court sentences Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in corruption cases
Dhaka (PTI): A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two separate corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project.
Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down the verdicts, sentencing Hasina to a total of 10 years’ imprisonment — five years in each case, state-run BSS news agency reported.
The court sentenced 78-year-old Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and her nieces, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and others in the cases over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol.
The judgment was pronounced at around 12.30 pm.
Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment — two years in each case — while Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in both cases.
Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused to surrender before the court, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment in each case, totalling two years.
The court also fined all convicted persons Tk1 lakh each and ordered them to serve an additional six months in prison in default of payment.
Hasina has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court.
The cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged abuse of power in the allocation of two 10-katha plots.
According to the prosecution, the accused manipulated the allocation process and violated existing rules and regulations of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
