Old photos of a mosque damaged in a fire, claiming it was caused by a BNP-Jamaat clash
Several photos have gone viral on Facebook claiming that a mosque was damaged in a clash between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists in Noakhali. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found that the photos are not from any mosque in Noakhali. One of the circulating photos is from an explosion at a Shia mosque in Afghanistan. The remaining images are from an explosion at the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in the Paschim Talla area of Fatulla, Narayanganj. These photos have no connection with the clash in Noakhali.
A personal Facebook profile posted the photos claiming they were of a mosque damaged in a BNP-Jamaat clash. The caption said, “This is not a mosque in Gaza, Palestine; this is in Noakhali Sadar upazila, a mosque attacked by BNP and Jamaat. Your downfall is inevitable.” The post has been shared 3,300 times so far.
The same photos were also posted with identical claims from multiple personal Facebook profiles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) as well as from an X account.
In one of the photos, a damaged building with white walls and white-tiled pillars is visible. Pieces of glass are scattered all over the floor, and several people are visible in the building. A reverse image search found a report by The Daily Star. The report, published on September 8, 2020, contained an identical image to the one in the viral post. The report stated, “A massive explosion occurred on Friday night at the Baitus Salah Jame Mosque in Narayanganj. Twenty-four people were killed, and many others were burned, most of them with more than 70 percent of their bodies burned.”
Several other reports (1, 2, 3, 4) on the same incident also featured the same image.
Another photo shows the inside of a mosque. A burnt carpet is seen on the floor, and four people are standing inside. One man is wearing a white pajama, a panjabi, and a cap, with a brown coat over his outfit. Behind him, another man wearing blue pajamas and a panjabi is visible. When this photo was reverse-searched, a report by Voice of America Pashto appeared.
The report, published in October 2021, stated, “Several residents of Kabul told Reuters on Friday, October 22 (30 Mizan), that they hope the Taliban will ensure the security of Shia mosques and other religious institutions. The residents of Kabul expressed this hope after IS attacks on Shia mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar killed more than a hundred people over the past two Fridays.” Multiple other (1, 2, 3, 4) reports were found using the same photo.
The third photo shows a wooden mimbar inside a mosque with a police officer standing in front of it. Green tiles can be seen behind the mimbar. When Dismislab verified this image using reverse image search, a report by Dhaka Post from January 1, 2021, appeared. The report was titled, “Narayanganj Mosque Explosion: CID Charges 29 People.”
The report stated, “CID has filed a charge sheet against 29 people, including the mosque committee president, in the case of the deadly explosion at Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in the Paschim Talla area under Fatulla police station in Narayanganj. Dismislab also found several other reports (1, 2, 3, 4) featuring the same image.
The last photo shows various objects and pieces of glass scattered across the floor. A reverse image search revealed a report by The Business Standard published on September 17, 2020. The report using the same photo stated, “According to a probe report by Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the explosion at the Narayanganj mosque was just waiting to happen, as all the hazardous elements required for the deadly blast were present. Gas had accumulated inside the mosque from a damaged gas line beneath it and from nearby illegal connections. A spark from the illegal electrical wiring caused the explosion, killing 31 people and injuring many others.” Several other (1, 2, 3) reports were also found featuring the same photo.
Therefore, three of the four circulating photos are from the gas line explosion at a mosque in Narayanganj. It is worth noting that on September 4, 2020, at around 8:30 p.m., a massive explosion occurred at the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in the Paschim Talla area of Fatulla police station, Narayanganj. Thirty-seven worshippers and one passerby were burned in the blast, among whom 34 people died.
It is to be noted that on October 19, a clash took place between BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists in Noakhali Sadar Upazila. According to a report by Prothom Alo on the same day, “A clash occurred between activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jubo Dal in Noakhali Sadar upazila. The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday in the courtyard of the Kashimbazar Jame Mosque in Noazpur union. The mosque was severely damaged in the attack. At least 40 people from both sides were reported injured. Upon receiving the news, police and army personnel arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. However, tensions remain high between the two groups in the area.”
Therefore, the photos being spread have no connection to the BNP-Jamaat clash that took place in Noakhali on October 19.
Disclaimer: The original version of this fact-check report was published in Bengali on Dismislab’s Bengali website on October 21. 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.
