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Rickshaw Puller Seen Crying in Video is From Bangladesh Not India

Fazlur Rahman’s vehicle was seized during Dhaka South City Corporation’s drive to evict battery-powered rickshaws.

Published
WebQoof
3 min read
Social media users have shared images and videos of a man crying while authorities seize his rickshaw, as an incident in India.
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Social media users have shared images and videos of a man crying while authorities seize his rickshaw, claiming it took place in India.

However, the incident actually took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh when rickshaw-puller Fazlur Rahman’s vehicle was seized during Dhaka South City Corporation’s drive to evict battery-powered rickshaws on 5 October.

The viral image.
The viral image.
(Source: Twitter)

CLAIM

Users shared the image with the caption, “The Law of this country is only for poor people..! (sic)”, tagging several Indian political leaders.

You can view an archived version <a href="https://archive.is/3alYC">here</a>.
You can view an archived version here.
(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)

The claim was also shared with a video from the incident.

You can view an archived version <a href="https://archive.is/w7PN6">here</a>.
You can view an archived version here.
(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)
You can view an archived version <a href="https://archive.is/jNpdw">here</a>.
You can view an archived version here.
(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)
You can view an archived version <a href="https://archive.is/vsG4Y">here</a>.
You can view an archived version here.
(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

The Quint also received a query regarding this image on its WhatsApp helpline.

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WHAT WE FOUND OUT

The incident actually took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh and not India as claimed.

A reverse image search led us to a photo-story by Bangladesh-based news site, bdnews24, dated 5 October 2020.

The image, clicked by photographer Asif Mahmud Ove, is captioned, “Rickshaw-puller Fazlur Rahman was seen crying in the capital’s Jigatala area after his vehicle was seized during DSCC’s eviction drive on Monday. Fazlur, who had lost his job amid the pandemic, said he bought the battery-powered rickshaw 15 days ago after borrowing Tk 80,000.”

You can also see the words “Dhaka South City” written on the bulldozer impounding the vehicle.

Rickshaw Puller Seen Crying in Video is From Bangladesh Not India
(Source: bdnews24/Screenshot)

Further, we found the viral video on Bangladesh-based news outlet Jamuna TV’s YouTube channel. The channel’s boom mic is visible in the viral video as well.

The video was titled, “Now I will tie the rope around my neck; The cry of a rickshaw puller,” in Bangla.

Rickshaw Puller Seen Crying in Video is From Bangladesh Not India
(Source: YouTube/Screenshot)

The incident was also reported by bdnews24 on their YouTube channel.

Dhaka Tribune also reported that DSCC had ran an eviction drive for battery-powered rickshaws in the Jigtala area of Dhaka.

When his video went viral on social media, Bangladesh’s grocery retail chain Shwapno, helped the rickshaw puller by purchasing two rickshaws for him, which he’d use for starting home delivery services.

The incident from Bangladesh was falsely attributed to India by social media users.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

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