Photo or Photoshop? Police’s AI Claim Contested
On August 27, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) claimed that a widely circulated photo of Deputy Police Commissioner of Ramna Division, Md. Masud Alam, pressing his hand against a student’s face was artificially generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Contradicting this assertion, photojournalists from four different newspapers stated they had personally captured the image at the scene.
The Daily Star’s photographer Orchid Chakma, who was present, described the incident: “Along with other photographers, I was standing near the road divider between Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center and the Intercontinental Hotel. Around 2:15 p.m. yesterday, police pushed students from Minto Road toward Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. At that moment, one protester was restrained by the police. Several photographers captured the scene. Later, water cannons were used to disperse the crowd. Others around me also took the shot. There is no question of it being AI-generated.”
The photo in question appeared on the front page of Manabzamin on Thursday, credited to their photographer, Abu Sufian Jewel. He stated, “Brother, my photo is the proof. I took it with my own hands.”
Bangladesh Pratidin’s photojournalist Jayita Roy also shared the picture on Facebook, saying it was taken in front of the hospital near the Intercontinental intersection around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. “When police could not stop the student procession, they began using water cannons and tear gas. At that moment, the officer tried to grab a protester from behind. There was a brief scuffle before other protesters freed him,” she explained.
Similarly, The Business Standard shared another angle of the incident, crediting their journalist, Rajib Dhar.
Despite this, the DMP issued a press release on Thursday, claiming the image was deliberately fabricated to mislead the public. The statement insisted, “Upon careful observation, it is evident that the photo was entirely created using AI technology and is devoid of reality.”
Fact-check analysis
Dr. Saiful Alam Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, examined the image. Using six different tools, including “Sight Engine,” he confirmed the photo was not AI-generated.
“There is no technological basis for the police’s claim,” he said. “The most effective way to identify AI-generated images is through metadata analysis. I do not believe the police possess such expertise.”
Critics argue the DMP’s statement reflects an attempt to conceal misconduct, comparing the handling of student protests to the unlawful tactics used during the July 2024 uprising. They contend the episode exposes the authoritarian tendencies of the Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and has reignited debate over the force’s oppressive conduct.
