On Saturday, November 30, a Shyamoli Paribahan bus traveling from Tripura to Kolkata met with an accident on the Bhairab Highway in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh. Indian media and social media posts quickly alleged that the bus was deliberately rammed by a cargo truck and that Indian passengers were threatened by locals with chanting anti-India slogans. These claims were amplified by Tripura’s Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and various news outlets.
However, fact-checking reports from multiple Bangladeshi sources and independent organizations, such as Rumor Scanner and FactWatch, revealed the incident to be a routine traffic accident [ 1, 2]. Bangladeshi outlets like Dhaka Post, BanglaNews24, and Channel 24 have since also debunked these claims [1, 2, 3]
According to the reports, the accident occurred when a truck attempted to overtake the bus, causing a small collision with a three-wheeled vehicle behind it. The e-bike driver sustained minor injuries, leading to a brief argument between the drivers. The claims of deliberate intent or threats to Indian passengers were entirely unfounded.
Bangladeshi police confirmed the details during a press briefing on December 1. The bus, carrying 17 Indian and 9 Bangladeshi passengers, sustained no damage, and none of the passengers were harmed. The bus driver, Asadul Haque, clarified that there were no confrontations between the passengers and locals. “The Indian passengers on my bus were not harassed or threatened. I was shocked to see the media reports,” he stated.
A video interview with the Indian passengers, shared by WION News Deputy Editor Sidhant Sibal, corroborated the facts. The passengers confirmed that while there was a minor accident, they faced no issues and everything was resolved peacefully.
A bus traveling from Bangladesh to India, carrying Indian passengers, encountered a minor accident.
The passengers reported no harassment or significant issues and confirmed that they are all safe & unharmed: pic.twitter.com/ZMIGlsQWty
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 1, 2024
The false narrative originated from a Facebook post by Tripura’s Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, which rapidly went viral. Several prominent Indian media outlets, including ABP Ananda,The Statesman, Hindustan times, Ei Samay, News18, Indian Express, Jagaran Tripura, reported the claims without verification.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha escalated the rhetoric, issuing a strong statement: “Such incidents in Bangladesh are unacceptable. If they don’t mend their ways, there will be consequences.”
This incident highlights the dangers of misinformation, especially in sensitive cross-border contexts, where unverified claims can escalate into diplomatic tensions.