The West Bengal BJP government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has intensified its crackdown on alleged illegal encroachments, unauthorised settlements and illegal immigration across the state.
In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media in which bulldozers are seen demolishing multiple structures. The video is shared with a caption suggesting that it shows bulldozers demolishing multiple structures in West Bengal after the BJP came to power in May.
The text embedded on the video reads, “All the illegal encroachments on government land that existed during the 15-year tenure of Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal are now being cleared under the Suvendu-led administration. West Bengal is now moving towards becoming free of illegal encroachments and ensuring smoother transportation and traffic movement.” (Translated from Hindi) A Facebook user shared the video with the same text.
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The video is from Bangladesh, not West Bengal.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that a similar video was shared by a Bangladeshi YouTube channel on May 12.
In the video at around 26 seconds, we can see visuals of the same location from different angles, matching the scene seen in the viral video. A sign reading ‘CCCC Chittagong’ is visible near a building in the media reports. The same sign can also be seen in the viral video.
The video is shared with a caption that reads, “CDA’s eight-day drive in Agrabad, Chittagong, demolition of illegal structures on Sheikh Mujib Road begins #chottogram”
Another hyperlocal news channel also shared the video on its Facebook page on May 12. The caption read, “CDA’s drive to evict illegal structures on Agrabad Sheikh Mujib Road.”
Using this information, we geolocated the area and could see that the surrounding structures match those visible in the viral video. Thus, it confirmed that the video is of 27 Sheikh Mujib Road in Chattogram, within Bangladesh’s Chittagong Division
Searching for media reports on the incident, we found that the incident was also reported by Bangladeshi website BD News 24 on May 12.
According to the report, authorities in Chattogram demolished around 60 shops and structures on 0.22 acres of railway land in Agrabad to make way for a ramp connecting the city’s elevated expressway to the airport route. Officials said the land had been acquired from Bangladesh Railways, with compensation paid to the railway authority. Shop owners, however, alleged they received no prior notice or compensation before the eviction drive.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.