Old image of Muslims offering namaz in water linked to 2024 Bangladesh floods

What's the claim?

A viral photo on social media depicts a group of Muslim men performing namaz while standing in water up to their shoulders. This image has been associated with the recent floods in Bangladesh in 2024.

Bangladesh is currently grappling with severe flooding following anti-government protests and violence. NDTV reported 20 deaths and over 5 million people affected by floods triggered by intense monsoon rains and overflowing rivers. According to Reuters, several regions have been cut off due to damaged roads, isolating communities and complicating relief efforts.

On platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, the image has been shared with Hindi captions that translate to: "At present, the situation in Bangladesh is dire due to the terrible flood. Karma brings results, but I am seeing it happen so quickly for the first time." Archives of these posts can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

Screenshots of the X posts. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

What did we find?

A reverse image search reveals that the photo, titled "Pray for Mercy," was taken by Sharwar Hussain and dated October 8, 2021. It is featured on the International Photography Awards website, which describes the image as showing residents in Satkhira, Bangladesh—a low-lying coastal area near the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. 

The description states that the photo depicts people praying in knee- to chest-deep water, seeking protection from rising tides. The mosque shown in the image was reportedly destroyed by tidal currents shortly after the photo was taken.

Additionally, the same image was posted on Instagram (archived here) by the photography studio House of Lucie Ostuni on September 19, 2023, tagging Hussain as the photographer. The caption reads: "Pray for Mercy by Sharwar Hussain | International Photography Awards 2022 - Best of Show. This picture was taken in Satkhira, Bangladesh, a low-lying coastal region near the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans. People are praying for Allah’s protection against the extremely high tides."

Hussain also shared the photo on his Instagram (archived here) account on March 29, 2022, with the caption: "Great to see my work is on the winning list @wwdphc-2022. This is a single photo from my long-term documentary project titled 'Tears of Global Warming.' My intention in sharing and participating with this photo is to send a message to a broad audience and world leaders about the effects of global warming and climate change on second and third-world countries, which contribute least to global warming but are the most affected. I believe winning second place will help me reach a global audience. Thanks a lot and gratitude to all the jury and team @wwdphc-2022."

Logically Facts has contacted Hussain, and this fact-check will be updated once a response is received.

Bangladesh 2021 floods

In 2021, heavy monsoon rains led to severe flooding in Bangladesh, displacing at least 21,000 people from July 27. The Bangladesh Post reported in August 2021 that Satkhira experienced relentless rainfall, with heavy downpours from July 29 to 30 causing widespread flooding.

The Network for Information, Response, and Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD) noted in their October 2021 report that heavy rainfall was observed in Rangpur, Sylhet, and Barguna. Additionally, embankment failures in Rajbari, Khulna, Gopalganj, Sirajganj, and Jamalpur led to significant waterlogging in Rangpur, Satkhira, and Tangail districts.

The verdict

The image of Muslims performing namaz while standing in water up to their shoulders, captured by photographer Sharwar Hussain during the 2021 floods in Satkhira, has been inaccurately linked to the recent floods in Bangladesh in 2024.