How to spot old procession videos that are shared as recent

In August of 2024, the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led mass uprising. The party’s senior leaders went into hiding, while many were arrested in various cases. Subsequently, the activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations were banned.

Despite the ban, the Awami League has organized a number of scattered programs (1, 2, 3), but none of them have drawn large crowds. However, a different picture is being portrayed on social media. Videos are frequently circulated claiming to be of recent Awami League and affiliated organization rallies. Many of these videos depict large gatherings.

However, Dismislab’s investigation found that these videos are not recent. Instead, they either show events organized by other groups or Awami League programs held while the party was in power.

These old videos, circulated with recent claims, mislead the public. Avoiding such misinformation requires public awareness. Rather than relying on social media, people should develop the habit of verifying information through multiple credible news outlets. One Facebook account that regularly circulates videos containing misleading claims is ‘‘RB GaZi.’’ The account, which has nearly 14,000 followers, was created on January 23, 2026.

Video 1

On July 31, the account RB Gazi posted a video claiming to show a rally by the banned Awami League. In the circulated video, chants can be heard saying, “The people have understood, they need Sheikh Hasina,” and “ There is an outcry across Bengal, we need Sheikh Hasina.” The video’s caption reads, “Today, there was a procession in front of the Awami League’s central office. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” As of the publication of this report, the video had been viewed 91,000 times and shared nearly 950 times.

The same video was also posted by multiple Facebook profiles and pages (1, 2, 3).

After extracting keyframes from the video and conducting a reverse image search, Dismislab found a matching video on the YouTube channel ‘‘Mk Raj Khan -3.’’ The video, published on November 14, 2025, carries the description, “Slogans calling for the demolition of the Awami League office.” The visuals match those of the circulated video. In both videos, Abdullah Al Jaber, convener of the Inqilab Mancha, can be seen wearing the same T-shirt. In the original footage, he is heard chanting anti-Awami League slogans, including, “The murderers League’s den, burn it down, tear it down.” No slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina appear in the original video.

Further verification through a relevant keyword search led to a video on the Facebook page of the news outlet Barta Bazar, titled ‘‘Inqilab Mancha protest in front of the Awami League office.’’ The video, published on November 13, 2025, matches the individuals present, the surrounding scene, and the activities shown in the circulated footage. The investigation found no evidence, in any version of the original footage, of slogans being chanted in support of Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League. In other words, the original audio from an old video of an Inqilab Mancha protest was removed and replaced with different slogans through editing.

Video 2

Another video published by the same account on August 4 appears to show a procession chanting “Sheikh Hasina” and “Jubo League (youth wing of Awami League).” At the front of the procession is Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, general secretary of the Jubo League. The post reads, “On the morning of the 4th, there was a very large Jubo League procession in Mirpur-1. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” As of the publication of this report, the video had been viewed 44,000 times and shared more than 350 times.

The same video was also posted by multiple Facebook profiles (1, 2, 3). 

After extracting keyframes from the video and conducting a reverse image search, Dismislab found a matching video published on the YouTube channel named R Media Center. The video’s description, published on September 23, 2022, reads, “Jubo League protest procession in Shyamoli.” The individuals, their clothing, and the surrounding scene match the circulated video exactly.

Further verification through a relevant keyword search found a report published on the official Bangladesh Awami League website. The report, published on September 22, 2022, states, “A protest procession and rally organized by the Dhaka North Metropolitan Jubo League was held at the Shyamoli Club Ground in the capital under the direction of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and at the call of General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, protesting the anti-state terrorism and anarchy of the BNP-Jamaat across the country.” The individuals and surrounding scene in the photographs attached to the report match those in the circulated video.

In other words, an old video of a 2022 Jubo League procession is being circulated as a recent event.

Video 3

On August 5, the same account posted another video claiming, “Today, an Awami League procession was held in Jatrabari, Dhaka, on the occasion of August 5. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” Participants in the procession can be heard chanting, “Sheikh Hasina has no fear; we have not left the streets,” “Joy Bangla,” and “Who are you? Who are we? Bengali, Bengali.” As of the publication of this report, the video had been viewed 41,000 times and shared more than 850 times.

The same video was also posted by multiple Facebook profiles and pages (1, 2, 3). 

After extracting keyframes from the video and conducting a reverse image search, Dismislab found a matching video published by a Facebook profile named Sultan Ahmed. The video, published on August 3, 2024, carries the caption, “Sheikh Hasina has no fear, we have not left the streets.” The footage matches the circulated video.

Further verification led to a video published on the Bangladesh Awami League Official YouTube channel. Published on August 3, 2024, the video’s title reads, “Student-public procession in Chattogram ‘My country, my mother will not become Pakistan or Afghanistan.’” The individuals in the procession, the surrounding scene, and the slogans match those in the circulated video. In other words, footage of a 2024 procession is being circulated with the false claim that it shows a recent rally.

In addition, on August 10, the same account circulated two more videos (1, 2) with recent claims. Dismislab’s verification found that both videos were originally published in 2023 (1, 2).

How to identify old videos circulated with recent claims

Identifying videos circulated with false claims on social media does not require advanced technical knowledge. With careful observation and awareness, ordinary users can often determine whether a video is authentic. Articles published by the Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera and the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) outline specific techniques for verifying video content.

• First, pay attention to the clothing worn by the people in the video and the surrounding environment. Compare what people are wearing with the weather conditions in the location at the time the video was purportedly recorded or posted. For example, if a video circulated during extreme summer heat shows participants wearing heavy sweaters, jackets, or shawls, it is likely that the footage is an old video from the winter.
• Second, examine the banners, posters, and signboards visible in the background. Pause the video and look closely at the banners carried at the front of a procession, as well as nearby billboards and signs. If a banner mentions a specific year, such as “Annual Conference 2022,” refers to a particular commemorative day, or displays the image of a deceased political leader, these may indicate that the video is old.
• Third, check whether the audio matches the speakers’ lip movements. In many cases, the original audio of an old video is removed and replaced with audio containing different slogans.
• Fourth, verify whether mainstream news outlets have reported the event. If a procession of the claimed scale had actually taken place, it would likely have been covered by the country’s television channels and national daily newspapers. If social media claims such a procession occurred but no reputable mainstream news outlet has reported it, the circulated video should be treated as misleading.
• Finally, use reverse image search. Take a screenshot of the clearest frame in the video and search it using the Google Lens app on a smartphone. This can help identify the source of the image and determine when, by whom, and in what context the video or image was first uploaded to the internet.

Why are these videos circulated?

People generally find it easier to accept information that aligns with their existing beliefs and ideology. Because of this tendency, such videos can create a positive impression among Awami League members and supporters about the party’s level of activity. They can also reinforce the perception that the organization remains active.

At the same time, the algorithms of social media platforms such as Facebook help amplify this type of content. Research has shown that the algorithms of platforms like Facebook give greater prominence to emotionally provocative content. As a result, videos containing dramatic claims are more likely to receive higher numbers of views, shares, and engagement. Such “success” encourages these accounts to continue using the same tactic repeatedly.