The Election Commission launched Phase 2 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on 4 November 2025 in nine states and three union territories, including West Bengal (here and here). Around this time, a video (here, here, here and here) went viral on social media showing several people crossing a river, with claims stating that illegal Bangladeshi Rohingyas were returning to Bangladesh due to the SIR process. Let’s find the truth behind this claim.
Claim: The viral video shows illegal Bangladeshi Rohingyas returning to Bangladesh due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal.
Fact: The video has no link to Rohingyas or the SIR process. It was filmed at Mongla Ghat in Bagerhat District, Bangladesh, a location that has no geographical connection to West Bengal or India. No reports were found indicating any bulk movement of Rohingya migrants to Bangladesh because of the SIR. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
To find the truth, we first conducted a keyword search on Google to check if any credible news reports mentioned Rohingya migrants returning to Bangladesh because of the SIR. No such information or reports were found. We then performed a reverse image search, which led us to similar videos on Facebook and TikTok showing the same location (here, here, here and here). These posts suggested that the video had been shot in Mongla, Bangladesh. The videos were uploaded by Bangladeshi users who said they were from Khulna, located about 50 km from Mongla (here and here).
When we looked further into the Mongla area, we found that it is situated in the southwestern region of Bangladesh and falls under the Mongla Upazila municipality in Bagerhat District of the Khulna Division. Geographically, the location has no connection or shared border with India. The river seen in the viral video is often referred to as the Mongla River, but it is not a distinct, standalone river. Instead, it is a section of the Pasur River that forms the estuary near the city of Mongla, where the Port of Mongla is located.
Additionally, when examining the geographical layout of the region, we noticed that Mongla lies between the Pasur (often locally called Mongla) River and the Rupsa River. Much of the main town is situated on the side of these waterways, meaning residents frequently need to cross the river for their daily routines, including work and other essential activities.
Further, satellite and street views of Mongla on Google Maps show several piers and boat ghats in the area. These visuals also show people lining up to board boats in a manner similar to what is seen in the viral video (here, here and here). The presence of the port, which is the second-largest seaport in Bangladesh according to news reports, further explains the heavy daily movement of people and goods in the region.
A keyword search using relevant terms also brought up several reports by mainstream and international media outlets (here, here, here and here) highlighting the difficulties people face while crossing this river area as part of their daily routine. These reports make it clear that such river crossings are a normal practice for local residents who commute for work and personal needs, and are not connected to any political events in India.
Additionally, Bangladeshi fact-checker Tanvir Mahtab Abir told the media outlet Lighthouse Journalism that the viral video was filmed at Mongla Ghat in Bagerhat. He explained that the people seen in the viral video are garment workers who regularly travel to their workplaces. This confirms that the video has no connection to West Bengal.
To sum up, a video filmed in Bangladesh is falsely shared as visuals of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas leaving West Bengal after the launch of SIR.
