Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor shared images on Monday claiming that statues at the Liberation War Memorial Complex in Bangladesh’s Mujibnagar have been destroyed by “anti-India vandals”. However, some internet users cautioned against sharing these images, warning that they may be promoting false narratives.

Tharoor took to his X, stating that it was heartbroken to see ‘1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals.’

He said: “This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship.”

He urged Bangladeshi new caretaker government head, Muhammad Yunus, and his government to take precautionary measures to restore law and order that forward interests of Bangladeshis.

Tharoor expressed Indian support towards Bangladeesh in the challenging; however, he stated that ‘such anarchic excess can never be condoned.’

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also mentioned alleged attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh following the dramatic ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Hindu and other minority groups have been protesting in Dhaka, demanding protection for their communities.

An X user, identified as Neeraj Rajput, pointed out that the picture shared by Shashi Tharoor showing statues on the floor is actually a sculpture depicting the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army against the people of Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war. The user clarified that these are not images of destroyed statues, as claimed by “journalists, veterans and ex-ministers”, but rather statues sculpted in that manner.

Rajput stated that he had personally visited Mujibnagar in 2016 and shared some pictures from that visit on social media as a “throwback” in 2018. The user also noted that the 1971 memorial is under the control of the Bangladesh Army, so it is unlikely to have been subjected to any kind of vandalism.

“Warning: Don’t fell into trap of fake narrative. The ’71 war sculptor memorial at #Mujibnagar in Khulna distt of Bangladesh depicts people/statues lying as can be seen in my ’18 tweet. Those are not destroyed statues. Many journalists, veterans and ex ministers are sharing it. May be it survived as its under the custody of BangladeshArmy. So, be cautious in sharing‼️” the user said on X.

The memorial complex is located in Mujibnagar, a historically significant town where the provisional government of Bangladesh took oath after the 1971 liberation war. The town was renamed from Baidyanathtala to Mujibnagar in honor of the then-imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is considered the founding father of Bangladesh.

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