Fake Graphic Claims Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia Asked Hindus To Convert
BOOM had previously reached out to the press wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party who confirmed the quote was fake.
Claim
The screenshot of a quote falsely attributed to former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia published by Khabar24x7.com is going viral in social media. Posts claim that the former PM has said that even though she regrets the death of the Hindus and Buddhists in Bangladesh, such cases are bound to happen in a Muslim majority country. Hence, they should go to India if they want to live safely. The screenshot reads, "'I regret the continuing of massacre of Hindus & Buddhists in Bangladesh, but Bangladesh is an Islamic Nation and not Secular. Now, the Muslims are in majority here. Under the circumstances, if Hindus & Buddhists want to live safely, they should either convert to Islam or go to India." - said Begum Khalida Zia, President, Bangla National Party."
FactCheck
BOOM had previously fact checked the statement attributed to Zia when it was viral in August 2021. With no credible media reports attributing such a quote to Zia, BOOM had then reached out to Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP press wing who denied Zia making any such statement during her tenure.
He emphasized on Zia's role in esnsuring security of the minorities in Bangladesh during Gujarat riots. Moreover, the viral screenshot erroneously designates Khaleda Zia the president of the Bangla National Party while she is the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
