Fact Check: Viral video does not show Bangladeshi cricketer Litton Das' house on fire

Hyderabad: Following the resignation and exit of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina from the country, massive processions of students and citizens marched towards Gono Bhaban in Central Dhaka.

Amid this turmoil, a video claiming to show fire coming out of the house of Bangladeshi cricketer Litton Das has gone viral. Those sharing the video claim that Litton Das' house was set on fire by protestors because he is a Hindu.

An X user shared the video with the caption: “He is Liton Das, a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is a national hero of Bangladesh. His house was set on fire by Islamists. This is the condition of an elite Hindu of Bangladesh. Just imagine the condition of common Hindus. #SaveBangladeshiHindus (sic)” (Archive)

Similar posts containing images of the burning house can be seen here and here. (Archive), (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The house belongs to former cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza, not Litton Das.

A reverse image search led us to a similar photo posted on X on August 5, 2024, with the caption: “Former cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza’s house has been SET ON FIRE in Bangladesh by the protesters.”

This hinted that the house may not belong to Litton Das.

Further, a keyword search revealed a report by Firstpost titled ‘Watch: Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s house set on fire by protestors.’

According to the report, which contained the viral image, local media stated that vandals attacked Mortaza’s house and set it on fire after the PM left the country following widespread student protests.

The report also stated that Mortaza, a Member of the Parliament from the Narail-2 constituency in Khulna division, won his seat as an Awami League candidate led by Sheikh Hasina in the General Elections in 2024.

To confirm if the house featured in the viral image belonged to Mortaza, we did a keyword search which led us to a video on YouTube titled ‘Mashrafe bin Mortaza House Narail’ posted on March 12, 2018.

We also geo-located the house on Google Maps and found the same one featured in the viral video.

In the YouTube video, at the 0:18-minute mark, his house can be seen from the front, which matches the visuals in the viral image and also the image found on Google Maps.

Since the YouTube video was six years ago, the current house has some modifications such as the addition of an arch above the gate and others.

However, upon close examination of the visuals from these sources, one can see many similarities. For example, the cricketer’s mural beside the gate can be seen in all visuals. In the viral video, it can be seen as being defaced.

Here’s a collage showing the similarities.

Hence, the claim that Bangladeshi cricketer Litton Das’s house was set on fire is false. The image and video circulating online show the house of former cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza’s house on fire.