The bagged dog rescue video is from India, not Bangladesh
A video showing the rescue of 14 dogs from sacks has spread on social media platform Facebook. Various accounts (1, 2, 3, 4) sharing the video claimed that dog meat was being used in Kacchi Biryani in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. However, verification has revealed that the video is not from Bangladesh. The incident actually took place in Assam, India.
A 2-minute and 37-second video was posted from a personal Facebook profile on May 26. It shows people rescuing several dogs stuffed in sacks. In the video, an organization called ‘Ashray’ claims to have set up a trap to catch the dog traffickers, leading to the rescue of 14 dogs. The rescuers stated that the dogs had been stolen from Karimganj and surrounding areas in Assam, India. The video also shows the interrogation and identification of those involved in the dog trafficking. Additionally, they reported capturing a private vehicle used for smuggling, with the car’s registration number clearly indicating it belonged to the Karimganj region of Assam.
The incident took place in India, and even though the video states otherwise, the Bengali text overlaid on the video reads, ‘Kachchi lovers are invited to eat kutta biryani.’ Additionally, the post’s caption reads, ‘Kutta biryani is being served in the name of kacchi biryani in the capital.’ Hey, Be human now.’ One user wrote in the comment, ‘Eat more Dhakaiya Biryani.’
To verify the authenticity, Dismislab conducted an online reverse image search. This search revealed the original video on the Facebook page ‘Ashroy – Karimganj‘. The video shared as a Facebook Live on May 22, is identical to the one shared in Bengali. The beginning of the 10-minute, 21-second live video was cut and reposted as it were from Bangladesh. The English caption of the actual video reads: ‘Another dog smuggling case rescued… 14 dogs rescued.’
Reviewing the ‘Ashray – Karimganj’ page reveals that it is a private non-profit organization (NGO) based in Karimganj, Assam. This organization focuses on rescuing, feeding, and caring for animals. The page features various posts (1, 2) with photos and videos documenting their dog rescue and care efforts.
To further verify the video’s origin, Dismislab reached out to Kalim Ahmed, a former journalist and fact-checker at the Indian fact-checking organization Altnews. He confirmed, “The video is indeed from Karimganj in Assam. The car’s number plate seen in the video also matches that location.”
An online news report about the same dog rescue incident has been found in the Assam-based media outlet “Barak Bulletin.” According to the report, traffickers were engaged in the illegal business of selling dog meat. The smuggling operation’s destination was Aizawl, in the neighboring state of Mizoram.
Therefore, It is clear that the dog rescue video is not from Bangladesh. A live video created by an NGO in Assam, India, was edited and circulated as if it were from Bangladesh.
