Following the formation of the interim Government in Bangladesh, there have been reports of several minorities, including Hindus, being forced to resign from their positions in various institutions in Bangladesh. In this context, a photo has surfaced on social media showing a woman tied to a tree, surrounded by female students. The photo is being widely shared with claims (here, here and here) that the woman is Geetanjali Barua, the principal of Azimpur Govt. Girls School & College, who was allegedly tied to the tree and forced to resign from her position. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Geetanjali Barua, the principal of Azimpur Govt. Girls School & College was tied to a tree and was forced to resign in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Fact: Geetanjali Barua, the principal of Azimpur Govt. Girls School & College resigned following student agitation over allegations of corruption, question paper leaks, and mistreatment of students. However, the woman tied to the tree in the viral photo is neither Principal Geetanjali Barua nor any of the teachers at the institute. She claimed to be an alumna of the college, but this has been denied by the college management. The protesting students tied her to a tree for obstructing them, but she was later rescued by security forces. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
An internet search using relevant keywords led us to several local media reports (here, here, here, and here) covering this issue. According to these reports, on 18 August 2024, students of Azimpur Govt. Girls School & College in Dhaka, Bangladesh, agitated for the resignation of Principal Geetanjali Barua and a few other staff members over the allegations of corruption, question paper leaks, and mistreatment of students. Visuals broadcast by the local media show students entering the principal’s office and demanding her resignation, which she ultimately submitted.
We then investigated the claim that the principal was tied to a tree but found no credible reports to support it. A clearer view (here, here & here) of the viral photograph from another angle reveals that the woman tied to the tree is not Principal Geetanjali Barua. A comparison between the woman tied to the tree and Principal Geetanjali Barua can be seen below.
Further research led us to a local media report (here) where the woman in question claimed she was a former student of the college and had come to the premises at the request of other students. However, the protesting students alleged that the woman was an outsider who, along with others, came to attack them. The students then tied the woman to a tree. Eventually, security forces intervened and rescued her.
Moreover, the college management acknowledged the viral visuals and stated (archive) that the woman in the video is neither Principal Geetanjali Barua nor a teacher at the college. In condemning this act by their students, they also noted that there is no evidence she is an alumna of the college. FACTLY has reached out to the concerned authorities to identify the woman in the viral video. This post will be updated if and when the required information becomes available.
To sum up, although Geetanjali Barua, the principal of Azimpur Govt. Girls School & College was forced to resign, the woman seen tied to the tree is not Geetanjali Barua but an alleged outsider who claims to be a former student of the college.
