Old image shared as Sheikh Hasina’s first photo after reaching India from Bangladesh

What is the claim? 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5, 2024, amid violent protests nationwide. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced on state television that Hasina had resigned and that the military would form an interim government. Hasina is currently at a safe house in India and is expected to travel to the United Kingdom, according to a report in the Indian Express.

Amid these developments, an image of Hasina appearing to wipe away tears is circulating on social media, with claims that it is the first image of her since arriving in India. 

A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared the image with the caption, “Breaking: - 1st picture of Ex Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina after she reaches India after Coup by Bangladesh Army. Seen crying in this pic, she cud leave for London, UK soon. #SheikhHasina #Dhaka [sic].” An archived version of this post and similar claims can be found here, here, here, and here. 

A screenshot of the viral post. (Source: X / Modified by Logically Facts)

However, we found that the viral photo is from July 25, 2024, captured during former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to a metro station in Mirpur, Bangladesh and that protesting students had vandalized during the protests.

What we found 

A reverse image search showed that the viral image was used in several media reports from July 2024. A report published on July 25, 2024, in Bangladeshi media outlet The Daily Sun (archived here), said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina July 25, inspected various parts of the damaged metro rail station in Mirpur 10, that were destroyed during the recent violence during the student movement for quota reforms in public service. 

Screenshot of Sheikh Hasina's photo in the Daily Sun report published on July 25. (Source: Daily Sun)

The report goes on to state that on July 19, significant damage was inflicted by unknown persons, who "went on a rampage” at Mirpur-10 and Qazipara metro stations. Metro rail services were suspended on July 18 amid protests by students demanding quota reforms in public services.

Another report in the Daily Sun said Sheikh Hasina became emotional after seeing the vandalism at the metro station and alleged that “conspirators were pulling the country back."

This image was published by several media outlets, including the BBC, News18, and The Telegraph, between July 25 and 26, and also reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the damaged metro station in Mirpur-10 in Dhaka on July 25 and had tears in her eyes.

We also found the now-viral image on AFP (archived here), which stated that this photo was taken and released by the Office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on July 25, 2024. Pictures of Sheikh Hasina's metro station visit were also uploaded on the official government website (archived here) on July 25. 

The verdict

Our investigation has found that the photo, supposedly showing an emotional Sheikh Hasina after arriving in India following her resignation as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, is actually from July, 2024. The photo was captured when she visited a damaged metro station. 

(Translated by Vanita Ganesh)

Logically Facts has been actively debunking misinformation around Bangladesh violence. You can read our fact-checks here.