Misinformation regarding the death of Sarah Rahanuma, a journalist from Gazi TV, has spread across social media platforms and Indian media, following a controversial post by Sajeeb Wazed, the son of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sarah Rahanuma, a 32-year-old newsroom editor at Gazi TV, was found dead in Hatirjheel Lake in Dhaka on Wednesday.
While the exact cause of her death remains unclear, her husband has suggested that it was a suicide.
Before her death, Sarah made several social media posts that hinted at personal struggles, including a message saying, “It is better to die than to live a life akin to death,” and another addressed to a friend expressing regret over unfulfilled plans.
In the wake of her death, Sajeeb gave a political angle to the incident.
In a post on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), he described the incident as “another brutal attack on freedom of expression in Bangladesh,” pointing out Gazi TV’s secular stance and its ownership by Golam Dastagir Gazi, who was recently arrested.
“Rahmuna Sarah Gazi, TV newsroom editor, was found dead. Her body was recovered from Hatirjheel Lake in Dhaka city. This is another brutal attack on freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Gazi TV is a secular news channel owned by Golam Dastagir Gazi, who was arrested recently,” he wrote.
Indian media outlets, such as Organizer.org and Business Today, picked up on Sajeeb’s post, reporting on Sarah’s death with an emphasis on Gazi TV’s alleged coverage of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh and the broader implications for press freedom in the country.
Organizer.org published the news with a headline stating, “Bangladesh: Journalist Sarah Rahnuma, who reported on Hindu persecution, was found dead in Hatirjheel lake,” while Times Algebra also highlighted Gazi TV’s “secular” stance and alleged reporting on atrocities against Hindus.
However, these reports have been criticized for spreading misinformation.
Contrary to the claims, Sarah was not involved in reporting on Hindu persecution; she worked as a newsroom editor, focusing on desk duties rather than field reporting.
Moreover, Gazi TV has not taken any extraordinary stance on minority issues compared to other media outlets in Bangladesh.
The station’s coverage following the events of August 5 was primarily political, with no particular focus on targeting religious minorities.
Additionally, Golam Dastagir Gazi was not arrested as a TV owner; he was detained like several other ministers from the immediate past government on murder charges related to the Anti-Discrimination Movement. His arrest had no direct connection to his ownership of Gazi TV.
Sarah’s death, initially shrouded in speculation, is now under investigation by the police to determine the true cause.
Her family and friends have noted her recent depression over job security and personal issues, which may have contributed to her tragic death.