Video from Bangladesh shared as post-election protests in Venezuela

What's being claimed?

A video showing a protest with people wielding sticks, running under a flyover, and throwing stones at passing vehicles has circulated on social media. The footage is claimed to depict Venezuelans protesting the results of the presidential election held on July 28, 2024, in which President Nicolás Maduro secured a third term with 51 percent of the vote.

Following the announcement of the results, demonstrations erupted across Venezuela, alleging election fraud. Many countries have called on Venezuela to release the vote tally amid escalating protests. According to Reuters, eleven individuals have died in the unrest.

In this context, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared the video with the caption: “#29Jul So it begins. The Venezuelan Bravo Pueblo ain’t having it and won’t accept the electoral fraud of the dictator Nicolás Maduro. FREEDOM #VenezuelaLibre #Venezuela.” The post garnered 126,700 views and 2,900 likes. Archives of similar posts can be found here. 

Screenshot of the viral video shared online. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, this video is from Bangladesh, not Venezuela.

Here are the facts

Through a reverse image search, we identified the video posted by a YouTube channel called Babu Bhai Pro on July 18, 2024 (archived here) with the same visuals. The video was captioned: “Current status of Chittagong' Bahaddarhat. #quotamovement #quota_movement #foryou #trending (Translated from Bangla).”

A Bangla Tribune report details a clash between students and police in Bahaddarhat, Chittagong, Bangladesh, where two youths were killed and around 40 people were injured. The report included photos of the incident, one of which shows a flyover pillar similar to the one seen in the viral video at the 0:03 mark.

Comparison of an image published by Bangla Tribune and the viral video. (Source: X/Bangla Tribune)

Channel 24 (archived here) also reported on the clash between students and police in Bahaddarhat on July 18, 2024. The video was captioned: “Chittagong Police-Student Clash in Bahaddarhat, Chasing is going on | Quota | CTG | Channel24.”

We geolocated the video and confirmed it was filmed under the Mannan Flyover in Bahaddarhat, Chittagong. The buildings and the yellow beam visible in the viral video match those seen in the geolocated area.

Comparison of the viral video and the location on Google Maps. (Source: X/Google Maps)

The protests in Bangladesh

Students in Bangladesh have been protesting against the Sheikh Hasina-led government's job quota policy, which reserves 30 percent of government positions for veterans' families from the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan.

The demonstrations have resulted in nearly 150 deaths, according to AP news. In response, the government banned the political party Jamaat-e-Islami on July 30, alleging it had exploited the student movement, Hindustan Times reports.

The verdict

The video showing a clash between protesters and police over the quota system in Bangladesh on July 18, 2024, has been incorrectly linked to protests in Venezuela.