Fact Check: Viral Social Media Warning of 55°C Heatwave in Bangladesh is Fake
Photo Collected
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has officially debunked a viral social media post claiming an extreme heat warning. Officials have labeled the message as “entirely false, misleading, and harmful,” urging citizens not to panic.
The Hoax vs. The Facts
| Viral Claim | Scientific Reality |
| Source | “Department of Civil Defense” (This agency does not exist in Bangladesh) |
| Temperature | Claims temperatures will soar to 45°C – 55°C |
| Timeline | High alert from April 29 to May 12 |
| Other Claims | Mobile phones exploding, spontaneous appearances of snakes and scorpions. |
How the Rumor Spread
The fabricated alert spread rapidly across Facebook, amplified by high-traffic lifestyle and fashion pages:
বিজ্ঞাপন
- “That’s Vogue By Sabrin” (181,000+ followers) shared the post, gaining over 19,000 reactions and 8,000 shares. The admin claimed she reposted it believing it came from a private TV channel—a claim later proven false.
- “Hater chowa-হাতের ছোঁয়া” (331,000+ followers) also shared the warning before deleting it once the hoax was exposed.
- In total, over 50 Facebook pages and profiles circulated the panic-inducing post.
“The circulation of such rumors needlessly creates public panic. We urge authorities to identify those responsible and initiate punitive action under prevailing laws.”
— Md. Mominul Islam, Director of the BMD
বিজ্ঞাপন
The BMD appeals to the general public to refrain from sharing unverified weather alerts and to rely strictly on official government channels for climate forecasts.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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