Claim that Bangladeshi delegates were present during Netanyahu’s UN speech is false

During the United Nations General Assembly session, several countries’ representatives walked out in protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium. A photo circulating on social media claims that while world leaders boycotted the speech, Bangladeshi delegates, including Dr. Muhammad Yunus, remained seated. However, Dismislab’s verification found the claim  false. No Bangladeshi representative was present during Netanyahu’s speech.

The 80th UN General Assembly General Debate is being held in New York. On the morning of September 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), delivered his speech. As soon as he approached the podium, delegates from dozens of countries walked out of the hall in protest. Israel is currently facing widespread global condemnation over its ongoing assault on Palestine.

Meanwhile, multiple Facebook pages and profiles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) shared an image with the same caption: “World leaders boycotted Netanyahu’s UN speech, but these shameless people sat through it.” The posts claimed that Bangladeshi delegates were “agents of Israel” (1, 2) and “Jewish collaborators.” The image was shared from several pages and profiles linked to the Awami League, including Kalihati Upazila Jubo League and Manch 71.

Footage from the UN’s official YouTube livestream shows that at 8:14 minutes, when Netanyahu reached the podium, representatives from different countries began leaving the hall. Up to 7:28 minutes into the video, no delegate was visible in the seat designated for Bangladesh. Even at 12:33 minutes, after Netanyahu had begun his speech, the Bangladesh seat remained empty. Netanyahu left the podium at 50:16 minutes into the video. Across 14 different segments of the 42-minute speech, the seat assigned to Bangladesh is seen vacant.

Later, at 1:28:11 into the same video, during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s speech, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mohammad Sallahuddin Noman Chowdhury, is seen taking his seat. A few minutes later, at 1:34:00, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Zara appear in the frame.

In summary, the claim that Bangladeshi delegates were present during Netanyahu’s UN speech is false. The designated seats for Bangladesh were empty throughout his address.

Disclaimer: The original version of this fact-check report was published in Bengali on Dismislab’s Bengali website on September 29, 2025. The English translation was completed later; however, to maintain time accuracy and avoid any potential misinterpretation, the English version has been published with the original publication date.