Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary has said rumours that are being spread regarding Padma Bridge are linked to anti-government forces.

“A vested quarter is now intentionally spreading such rumours to create an unstable situation in Bangladesh,” he said while speaking to the media at Police Headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday (Jul 24).

Responding to a query, the IGP said as of now, eight people have been killed in mob violence and 103 people have been arrested under 31 cases filed centering the incidents.

“We have found that none of those killed in mob violence were child abductors,” he added.

He also said already 60 facebook accounts, 25 youtube links and 10 web portals used to spread rumours on Padma Bridge have been shut down.

“These links were used in a pre-planned manner to spread the rumours,” he added.

He also said the vested quarter has also been spreading rumours from abroad.

“The first such post that came to our attention was from a person based in Dubai. We found that this person had links with an anti-government political party,” he added.

“Among those who have been arrested, we also found that some of them were linked to such political forces (anti-government). We are now working to collect their profiles.”

The IGP also said all officer-in-charge of police stations across Bangladesh have been directed to raise awareness against these rumours.

“From tomorrow (Thursday), a week-long awareness campaign against spreading rumours will begin across the country,” he informed.