Mahdi Amin, Adviser to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, has claimed that numerous rumours and misleading narratives are circulating on social media regarding the recent brutal killing of a scrap trader near Mitford hospital in Dhaka.

In a verified Facebook post on Monday (July 14), Amin outlined describing ten planned disinformation campaigns and countered them with evidence-based facts.

He said multiple sources had confirmed details to clarify the situation and emphasised that identifying and punishing the real perpetrators remained a pressing need.

The following is the full text of the post published by Mahdi Amin:

Are the individuals seen in the video attacking with bricks and stones the same expelled BNP activists?
Answer: No. The persons visible in the video footage and those expelled by BNP are different individuals. Disclosing the names and identities of the actual killers and arresting them swiftly for exemplary punishment is the most important issue.

Were the expelled BNP members present at the scene of the incident?
Answer: Those expelled from BNP were not present at the location. Their names were controversially included in the case’s First Information Report (FIR). However, as a gesture of respect for public sentiment and trust in justice and the rule of law, the party expelled them even before the investigation concluded. A neutral inquiry will identify the real perpetrators.

Has the police arrested everyone seen in CCTV footage committing the crime?
Answer: No. Police have so far not arrested the attackers caught on video striking with bricks and stones. Strangely, not all the visible killers’ names were included in the FIR. The victim’s family has repeatedly expressed frustration that the main offenders remain at large and have managed to evade arrest. It is crucial to uncover who planned this brutal murder, who recorded the video, and who began distributing it online.

Was extortion the motive behind this barbaric act?
Answer: According to police and local residents, this was not an extortion-related incident. The murder occurred due to rivalry over local dominance and business interests.

What has the victim’s family said about the incident?
Answer: The victim’s family told the media: “In the second FIR draft, names of three main accused were removed, and individuals who were not involved were forcibly included. My mother signed the document without understanding. The real masterminds were excluded, and innocent people were made accused.”

What has the police stated about the incident?
Answer: Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Lalbagh Division, told the media: “We have not confirmed the political identity of the suspects. What matters to us is that a crime was committed—who did it? The offenders’ identity is important only in relation to their actions. So far, no credible source has confirmed any political affiliation. We have questioned those arrested, but they have not clearly admitted ties to any political group. We will arrest the remaining accused, question them thoroughly, and share any verified information about political links.”

Did this incident spread online immediately after it happened?
Answer: No. Deliberately, two days after the July 9 murder—on Friday, July 11, during the prime time after Jummah prayers—the video and distorted information were released online. It raises logical questions why, amid numerous brutal incidents in Khulna, Cumilla, Chandpur and elsewhere, there was such selective attention and orchestrated efforts around this specific case.

Did the photo cards, videos, and narratives circulated truly reflect the actual events?
Answer: No. Certain social media accounts and pages had already prepared misleading photo cards before the online campaign began. This indicates that propaganda material was pre-made and then launched as part of a disinformation campaign.

Why was BNP’s top leadership attacked with obscene language over this isolated incident?
Answer: Instead of recognising BNP’s exemplary action to remove the accused solely on the basis of allegations, propaganda and slander were spread in a fascistic manner to damage BNP’s popularity. This indecent effort is contrary to the aspirations for a mass uprising. Nevertheless, BNP remains determined to maintain public safety and national stability, rejecting all incitement, conspiracies and provocations.

Has the government demonstrated capacity for proper investigation, justice and restoring law and order?
Answer: The brutal killing of a man in a crowded area of the capital is not only a grim reflection of law and order but also of a wider culture of impunity. Equally worrying is that opportunistic groups have used the incident to spread obscene behaviour, hateful content and fake narratives on social media and elsewhere. The public expects the interim government to take accountable measures against all crimes and conspiracies, uphold the rule of law, and work to restore stability.

MSK/