Victim of road crash falsely portrayed as victim of political rivalry
A photo spread on social media claimed that a Chhatra League worker’s hand was cut off by terrorists in Noakhali’s Daganbhuiyan for being involved with the Student League. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found that the photo is actually from an incident in Noakhali’s Sonaimuri, where a man’s hand was severed after being hit by a truck.
On December 9, a personal Facebook profile posted a photo with the caption: “In Daganbhuiyan, terrorists cut off the hand of a Chhatra League worker as punishment for doing Chhatra League politics. Where is the end of this brutality?” The post has been shared more than 3,900 times.
The same photo was also posted from multiple personal Facebook profiles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), with the same claim.
A reverse image search revealed a report published on December 6 by Corporate Sangbad, with the headline, “Youth’s hand severed after being hit by a truck in Noakhali.” The photo used in that report exactly matches the one being circulated. The report says, “In Noakhali’s Sonaimuri, a reckless truck hit a motorcycle, severing the right arm of a young man named Md. Bijoy (21) from the shoulder.”
According to the report, the motorcycle was hit by a truck at the Katalia area of the Sonaimuri–Cumilla regional highway on December 6. Two young men riding a bike fell onto the road and were seriously injured. Locals rescued one of the riders along with his severed hand and took them to the Upazila Health Complex. Duty doctors provided primary treatment and sent them to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital. From there, Bijoy was referred to Dhaka.
Multiple (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) news outlets also published reports on the incident. A report published by The Daily Star on December 6 states that in Noakhali’s Sonaimuri, a young man named Md. Bijoy lost his hand after being hit by a truck. At the same time, another person named Mahmudul Hasan was seriously injured.
Noakhali General Hospital’s Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. Rajib Ahmed Chowdhury told The Daily Star that a young man injured in a road accident was brought to the hospital in the evening. His right hand had been severed from the shoulder. With his severed hand, he was sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Kabir Hossain, the officer-in-charge of the local police station, said that police visited the scene after receiving the news. Initial investigation shows that the accident occurred when a truck hit the motorcycle. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is filed. No news outlet mentioned any political affiliation of Md. Bijoy.
In short, the widely circulated photo is from an incident in Noakhali’s Sonaimuri where a man’s hand was severed after being hit by a truck, and it is being shared with a false claim.
