The fact-checking body Rumor Scanner has dubbed as misleading a viral video claiming a new armed group in Myanmar to be a Bangladeshi one.
In its investigation, the fact-checking watchdog found that a video of a new armed group in Myanmar is being falsely attributed to an armed group in Bangladesh.
In a report published on its website on Wednesday, Rumor Scanner said a video titled “Jemon Khushi Temon Sajo” (Dress up as you like) with the caption “Usury has made the country a safe haven for militants” recently went viral on social media.
The video shows people covering their faces while delivering speeches during which words like “Mujahideen” and “Jihad” can be heard.
By circulating the video, it is being falsely claimed as evidence of an armed group in Bangladesh.
However, the Rumor Scanner investigation revealed that the video is unrelated to any armed group in Bangladesh.
Instead, it is a video of a new armed group in Myanmar called the “Arakan National Defence Force” (ANDF).
A search in this regard led to a report published by the Myanmar-based media outlet “Development Media Group” (DMG) on December 13, titled “New Muslim armed group emerges in Arakan State.”
The image attached to the report closely matches the video being circulated with the disputed claim.
The DMG report revealed that after the Arakan Army captured the city of Maungdaw on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border a new Muslim armed group, the ANDF, was formed to fight against the Arakan Army.
In the viral video, a member of the ANDF is seen announcing their presence and pledging to fight the Arakan Army.
Similar information is also available in a report published on December 14 by Myanmar-based media Era’s Eye.
Furthermore, an extended version of the controversial video, released on December 11 on a YouTube channel called “Rohingya Knowledge World,” was found during the investigation.
The description of the YouTube channel also identifies the video as being from the ANDF.
In conclusion, the viral video of a new armed group in Myanmar is being falsely circulated in Bangladesh as evidence of a local armed group which is entirely incorrect, the Rumor Scanner report stated.
In a separate investigation, Rumor Scanner also debunked another video that falsely claimed performance by students at an annual competition at Jessore Jamia Islamia Madrasa was evidence of the rise of militancy, gatherings or calls for jihad in Bangladesh, calling the claim misleading.
