Fabricated quotes from Bangladeshi politicians about nuclear plant surface online
- Published on May 8, 2026 at 07:52
- 3 min read
- By Eyamin SAJID, AFP Bangladesh
As Bangladesh began work in April 2026 to prepare its long-delayed maiden nuclear power plant for operations, social media users began sharing fabricated quotes from various politicians crediting the country's newly elected leader with making the infrastructure project possible. Three of the supposed quotes stem from a parody Facebook page, while a fourth misuses a graphic from a local media organisation. The prime minister's office also told AFP the quotes about the plant, which broke ground under the previous administration, were made up.
Three similar Bengali-language infographics featuring purported quotes from Bangladeshi officials about the country's Russia-funded Rooppur power plant spread across Facebook and Instagram on April 28 and 29.
One claims the minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said: "The uncompromising Leader Khaleda Zia dreamt of a nuclear power plant and Tarique Rahman made it happen" (archived link).
Khaleda Zia was Bangladesh's first female prime minister, and her son Tarique Rahman took office in February following months of political upheaval after the country toppled the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina (archived link).
A second infographic features Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, an adviser to the prime minister, supposedly saying Rahman made the nuclear power project "possible in two months", while nothing was accomplished under the 15-year rule of Hasina's Awami League (archived link).
Meanwhile, a third graphic claims a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) student leader from the central city of Narayanganj, Jakir Khan, said: "The country would make an atomic bomb if the current prime minister continues for five years" (archived link).
Posts on Facebook, X and Instagram separately shared a purported graphic from private broadcaster RTV featuring Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who allegedly said the "first formula of a nuclear power plant was discovered" by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman (archived links here and here).
The claims circulated online as Bangladesh began loading uranium fuel into its first nuclear power station on April 28, a key step towards bringing the 2,400-megawatt plant online to ease pressure on the overstretched power grid (archived link).
Bangladesh signed a contract with Russia in December 2015 to build two nuclear power units at Rooppur. Construction began in 2017 under the Hasina administration (archived links here and here).
The first unit of the power plant was initially scheduled for completion in October 2023, while the second was planned for October 2024. But progress was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine (archived link).
Authorities have said the first unit is expected to begin producing power for the grid in August 2026, with full capacity expected in 2027 (archived link).
However, the circulating quotes from BNP administration officials are fabricated.
Md. Suzauddhowla, deputy press secretary in the prime minister's office, told AFP on May 4 that the statements were "totally fabricated".
AFP found no credible reports of any such quotes from the officials.
Parody posts, fabricated graphic
Reverse image searches on Google surfaced the first three graphics in April 28 posts from a Facebook page called "Gupto Television".
The user who runs the page declined to comment directly on the posts, but pointed to the account's bio, which states: "All contents are for entertainment purpose only. Our contents are presented through humor, satire, and parody."
Keyword searches also found RTV has not posted the fourth circulating graphic on its Facebook page.
The broadcaster published a disclaimer that the graphic is a fake on May 4 (archived links here and here).
"It's a fake (graphic) card," Kabir Ahmad, RTV's head of digital and social media, confirmed to AFP on May 4.
AFP contacted each of the politicians mentioned in the false posts for comment, but responses were not forthcoming.
Copyright © AFP 2017-2026. Any commercial use of this content requires a subscription. Click here to find out more.
Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.
Contact us
