AI-generated image of newspaper’s front page spread to claim Asif Mahmud vandalised Salman Muqtadir’s studio
An AI-generated image claimed to be the front page of Manab Zamin was spread by a Facebook page alleging that Asif Mahmud vandalized Salman Muqtadir’s studio. From the same page, another image resembling the layout of the front page of Amar Desh was used to claim that the Jamaat ameer (chief) had held a secret meeting with an Israeli intelligence officer. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found that both images were created using artificial intelligence (AI). Neither newspaper published such a report.
On September 28, an image resembling the front page of Manab Zamin was posted on Facebook from a page named “Sayma Mahi.” Using photos of Asif Mahmud, his wife and Salman Muqtadir, the main headline read, “Regarding Asif Mahmud’s wife, extramarital affair proved to be Salman Muqtadir’s undoing. Claim of former PSA, Asif Mahmud’s terrorist force was involved in the vandalism” (verbatim). As of this writing, the post has received 717 reactions and 103 comments, and has been shared 153 times.
On September 27, an image claimed to be the front-page layout of Amar Desh was posted from the same page. Using photos of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman and an Israeli citizen, Mendi N Safadi, the lead headline read, “Secret meeting of Jamaat ameer with Israeli intelligence officer Mindi Safadi” (verbatim). As of this writing, the post has received 865 reactions and 163 comments, and has been shared more than 1,500 times.
To verify authenticity, the two images were tested on OpenAI’s verification tool. The tool stated that both images were created using OpenAI.
Next, the front pages of Manab Zamin and Amar Desh were searched through the e-papers from September 23 to September 29. No such report was found.
Comparing the fake images with the front pages of the two newspapers, several discrepancies were noticed. On Manab Zamin’s front page, the newspaper’s name is placed upright, or vertically, on the left side of the masthead. Alongside it, the tagline reads “Does not do anyone’s bidding.” In the fake image, however, the newspaper’s name in the masthead is placed horizontally, and the tagline reads “On the side of truth, alongside the people.” The newspaper’s logo is also different. Manab Zamin’s website address is www.mzamin.com, but the fake image gives the address as www.manabzamin.com.
On Amar Desh’s front page, the tagline reads “Speaks of independence.” The fake image reads “For independence and truth.” The newspaper’s website address is dailyamardesh.com, but the fake image uses www.dainikamardesh.com. The price, registration number and print edition information in the fake image are also different.
The fake Amar Desh image carries the date “9 Ashwin 1432” (Ashwin is a month in the Bengali calendar), which is September 24, 2025 in the Christian calendar. Yet the image was posted on Facebook on September 27, 2026. In other words, a date nearly one year old was used in the image.
In other words, Manab Zamin and Amar Desh did not publish these reports. The front-page images of the two newspapers were created with AI.
Earlier, multiple fact-check reports were also published on the spread of false information from the “Sayma Mahi” page.
