An old photo claiming to be a tribute to Bangladesh’s founding president is causing a stir online! But is everything as it seems? Dive into our latest article to uncover the surprising truth behind this viral image and the political narrative it’s being used to fuel. What’s really going on?

A recent wave of digital misinformation has swept across social media, falsely linking an old photograph to current political tributes in Bangladesh. The image, widely circulated, purports to show a prominent Indian politician commemorating the death anniversary of Bangladesh’s revered founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a claim that has been meticulously fact-checked and debunked.

The viral posts specifically alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was paying tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 50th anniversary of his death, an event of significant historical and political weight in Bangladesh. This narrative gained traction amidst reports of restrictions on public commemorations by supporters of the banned Awami League party.

However, an exhaustive investigation into the photograph’s origin reveals a critical discrepancy. The image, along with similar video footage, actually captures Mamata Banerjee marking a distinct historical occasion: the 100th birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in March 2020, years prior to the recent death anniversary. This key detail underscores the deliberate misrepresentation of the visual evidence.

The context surrounding Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s commemorations in Bangladesh is deeply intertwined with the nation’s political landscape. His legacy is closely associated with the once-dominant Awami League party, led by his daughter Sheikh Hasina. Public holidays and tributes linked to the founding president have often become focal points for political expression and contention.

Adding to the complexity, local media outlets reported that supporters of the Awami League were reportedly prevented from publicly marking the anniversary at the site of Rahman’s former residence. This reported restriction highlights the sensitive nature of such events under the country’s interim government, which has reportedly altered the public holiday associated with his death.

Despite the online assertions, no official reports or photographic evidence have emerged as of August 27, 2025, confirming Mamata Banerjee’s participation in any tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 50th anniversary of his death. Her official social media channels, typically a source for such public engagements, also showed no related posts for that specific date.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive challenge posed by digital misinformation, especially concerning sensitive political and historical narratives. The rapid spread of unverified content can significantly distort public perception and fuel political agendas, making critical media literacy and rigorous fact-checking more crucial than ever in the South Asian political arena.