The footage was uploaded on Thursday (22 October) afternoon through the Facebook account of Mujahid Fakir, member secretary of the NCP’s Santhia municipal unit. Although the video was deleted approximately an hour after its publication, it had already spread across social media, attracting criticism and raising concerns among local political figures.
Several social media users condemned the apparent display of a weapon and called for action against the NCP leader. However, some party activists have claimed that the footage was created using artificial intelligence, leaving questions about its authenticity unresolved.
The video shows the hands and legs of two individuals, with one person apparently placing a pistol-like object on the floor. Another individual then picks it up and handles it. Neither person’s face is clearly visible, making it difficult to establish their identities.
It also remains uncertain whether the object shown in the footage is a genuine firearm, a replica or part of digitally generated content.
The incident has drawn criticism from local political representatives, who have expressed concern about the possible impact of such material on public confidence and security.
Abdul Karim, president of the Santhia municipal unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), voiced concern over the video and urged the authorities to take appropriate legal action.
“Such displays of weapons are intended to create fear among the public. A former state minister recently lost his position over a similar incident. Mujahid Fakir and several other political leaders have been repeatedly publishing such posts. The administration should take prompt legal action to maintain peace and order,” Karim said.
His remarks reflected concerns about the publication of firearm-related content by individuals holding political positions, particularly when the circumstances surrounding the footage remain unclear.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that they are examining the video to determine whether the object displayed is an actual weapon.
Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Santhia Police Station, said Mujahid Fakir had previously published similar photographs and videos on Facebook. However, the pistol shown in those earlier posts was subsequently identified as a toy.
According to Rahman, investigators are now assessing the latest footage to establish whether the object is genuine.
He said that if the weapon is confirmed to be real, police will examine whether it was legally possessed and whether the video was published with the intention of creating fear among members of the public.
Any necessary legal action would be taken following the investigation, he added.
The distinction between a genuine firearm and an imitation is significant, as it could determine whether any firearms-related legal provisions are relevant to the incident.
Questions surrounding the video’s authenticity also remain central to the inquiry. While some NCP activists have suggested that artificial intelligence was used to produce the footage, no verified evidence has been presented to substantiate that claim.
Equally, the available information does not establish that the object was a functioning firearm or that the individuals appearing in the recording were directly connected to the political leader.
Attempts to contact Mujahid Fakir for his response were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off. Consequently, his explanation regarding the video and the allegations could not be obtained.
The NCP’s local leadership has also declined to offer a definitive assessment before establishing the circumstances of the incident.
Md Bakul, convener of the party’s Santhia upazila unit, said he had heard about the controversy from others but had not personally watched the video.
He explained that he had also been unable to contact Mujahid because his mobile phone was switched off.
Bakul said he would comment on the matter after gathering detailed information about the incident.
The controversy has raised broader questions about the responsibilities of political representatives when sharing potentially alarming content on social media.
Although such videos can circulate rapidly and attract public attention, determining their authenticity is essential before drawing conclusions about possible criminal conduct or the involvement of particular individuals.
In this case, the identities of the people appearing in the footage, the nature of the object displayed and the circumstances in which the video was recorded have yet to be independently established.
Police have indicated that these matters will be examined before deciding whether legal action is warranted.
For now, the allegations remain unproven, and no conclusive findings have been announced regarding the authenticity of the footage or the legality of the object shown.
The incident continues to attract attention in Santhia as police work to establish the facts surrounding the viral video.
