Photocard claiming Bangladesh’s chief adviser ordered army to shoot ‘troublemakers’ is fake
Social media platforms have been saturated with misleading and fabricated content as Bangladesh heads toward its landmark national election scheduled for February 12.
One such claim appears in a photocard shared by the Facebook satire page “Projapati TV,” which alleges that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ordered the army to shoot anyone causing disturbances at polling stations on election day.
The photocard (Archive Link), posted on February 6, uses a file photo of Yunus alongside Bengali text. The post garnered more than 3,000 reactions, 240 comments, and over 1,000 shares. The page also actively engaged with users in the comments, giving the appearance of authenticity. One of the users said it was the “right decision,” while another said, “I concur, if this is true.”
The same photocard and claim were later shared by several Facebook pages (1, 2) and individual accounts (1, 2, 3).
A reverse image search found the photocard originated from “Janina TV”, a satirical page whose name references the popular Bangladeshi broadcaster Jamuna Television. That version, also posted on February 6, has amassed more than 28,000 reactions and over 3,500 shares so far.
The photocard in question is dated “February 6, 2025.” On that particular date, Jamuna TV posted a photocard with Yunus’s comment, that said: “Election likely by the end of this year, chief adviser tells Japanese media.”
Dismislab reviewed posts published on February 6 on the interim government’s verified Facebook handle. In one post, the chief adviser urged citizens to act with patience, restraint, and responsibility during what he described as a “sensitive political phase”, noting that the international community was closely observing developments in Bangladesh.
In a second post the same day, Yunus called on the public to show maximum responsibility and cooperation to ensure a participatory election held in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.
There is no official record or credible report indicating that the chief adviser instructed the army to open fire in response to disorder at polling stations.
The claim is false.
