Fake Front Exposed: PIB Finds Falsehoods in "Dainik Ajker Kantho" Page
The fact-checking team BanglaFact, under the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), has uncovered evidence of false information being circulated by a Facebook page named "Dainik Ajker Kantho."
According to the report, the page has recently been posting photo cards and videos on various issues. Its name closely imitates the title of the daily "Ajker Patrika," making it appear at first glance as if it were a mainstream news outlet. However, despite being styled after "Ajker Patrika," there is no registered newspaper under the name "Ajker Kantho."
Upon reviewing the page’s recent posts, BanglaFact identified at least three instances of false information.
On July 5, the page posted a photo card claiming that Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had said in a recent interview that "a dynamic leader like Sheikh Hasina is rare." However, despite extensive efforts, BanglaFact found no evidence supporting this claim. No credible media or reliable sources could verify that Mahathir Mohamad had made such remarks about Sheikh Hasina.
On July 17, the page shared a video with the caption, "Who will answer for the extrajudicial killings?" The footage showed two policemen loading an unconscious youth into a van. The post claimed the incident occurred in Gopalganj on July 16, 2025. Verification, however, revealed that the video had already been circulating online since June 4, 2025—meaning it was both old and unrelated to the claimed context.
Furthermore, on August 8, the page circulated a photo card with the headline, "Journalist Anwar is no more, beaten by extortionists before police." The post alleged that journalist Anwar Hossain, attacked by a group of extortionists in Gazipur in front of the police, had died. Fact-checking revealed that the report was false. On August 6, Anwar Hossain, a reporter for Dainik Bangladesh-er Alo, was indeed brutally assaulted while gathering news in the Sahapara area of Gazipur. However, contrary to the false claim, he did not die. Gazipur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mehedi Hasan confirmed to BanglaFact that Anwar Hossain is alive.
The controversial page currently has 35,000 followers. An analysis of its transparency section by BanglaFact shows that it was launched on April 18, 2025, and is run by three administrators—one based in Bangladesh and two operating from the Netherlands and the United States. Another Bangla-language page with the same name was also found, launched on August 9, 2025.
Meanwhile, the website associated with "Ajker Kantho" was found to have been registered on July 31, 2025—indicating it was launched just last month.
