United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir has said Bangladesh, for over a decade, lived under the shadow of a regime that turned "elections into farces, dissent into treason, and the press into a pliant karaoke machine".  He said deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was not content with just running the country; it wanted to own it, complete with a monopoly on truth.  "And yet, many Indian media outlets covered her like she was the reincarnation of Florence Nightingale with a hint of Indira Gandhi—a benevolent savior wrapped in a saree," Apurba said in Facebook post shared from his verified account.  The DPS said the headlines painted Hasina as the "custodian of regional stability, the queen of economic growth, the counterterrorism champion." "All the while, you conveniently ignored the cracks in her carefully curated narrative: the enforced disappearances, the muzzled media, and the rigged elections that would make even the most seasoned dictator blush. But hey, why bother with facts when you’ve got a heroine to glorify, right?," Apurba said. The DPS claimed that India’s political elite has long seen Bangladesh as the "pliant younger sibling —a nation to scold, co-opt, and control".  European countries: CA's press wing shares progress on visa issues He said Hasina fit neatly into that box. "She gave you border deals, connectivity agreements, and a steady hand against your own domestic insurgencies. In return, you turned a blind eye to her despotic tendencies, spinning her reign as one long, glorious Durga Puja of democracy." And now, Apurba said, as the Interim Government of Bangladesh charts a new path—one rooted in accountability, transparency, and genuine public service—"you’ve shifted gears".  "Suddenly, we’re painted as a ‘threat to stability,’ a rogue element disrupting the cozy status quo, the next villain of “Pathan”. Never mind that our goal is to restore the democratic rights that Hasina trampled on. Never mind that our mandate is to fix what she broke," Apurba mentioned in his Facebook post. But here is a little secret, said the DPS, adding that Bangladesh "isn’t your pawn, and it never was. We’re not here to play second fiddle in your geopolitical symphony, and we’re certainly not here to rubber-stamp your propaganda." Trade most import vehicle for economic dev: Adviser Salehuddin He said they a nation with their own dreams. "Our own struggles, and yes, our own flavors—bold, unapologetic, and unforgettable." Reffing to their friends in the Indian media, Apurba said, "Here’s a piece of advice: go easy on the favoritism. Don’t mistake loyalty to a leader for loyalty to a nation." "As for us? We’ll keep cooking up something better—a future where democracy isn’t a garnish, but the main course," said the CA's DPS.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder has clarified no journalist's accreditation card had been cancelled and the confusion over Secretariat access stemmed from temporary restrictions.  “Many people mistakenly assumed that journalists' accreditation cards have been revoked but this information is not right, no journalist’s accreditation card has been revoked,” he said while briefing reporters outside state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday. Following a recent announcement by the Ministry of Home Affairs, misunderstandings surfaced regarding the temporary restrictions imposed on access to Secretariat, he said. “An accident occurred at the Secretariat which is currently under investigation. Due to the investigation process, it has become a crime spot and so movements within the Secretariat have been temporarily limited. As part of this, journalists’ access was restricted,” Azad said. The deputy press secretary said the government is making every effort to resume journalist access to the Secretariat as soon as possible, even on a temporary basis. “A decision was made today to issue temporary passes starting tomorrow, allowing journalists to enter the Secretariat. Initially, around 200 journalists will receive these passes, including around 60 members who regularly cover Secretariat affairs and 40 cameramen from various television channels.” BSRF secures temporary secretariat access for journalists Besides, a grievance cell has been established to address the need of people including journalists requiring Secretariat access and they can apply for temporary passes from this cell if necessary. Regarding the ongoing investigation into the Secretariat fire incident, the head of the probe committee informed that the preliminary report will be submitted to the Chief Adviser tomorrow, Azad said. Evidence collected so far is being examined and some of it might be sent abroad for further analysis if needed. In a press statement on Friday, the Home Ministry imposed a restriction on journalists, even with accreditation cards, from entering the Secretariat, citing security concerns following a recent fire inside it.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir on Sunday said there has been no date from Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus regarding the national election yet, stressing that Education and Planning Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud’s comment is entirely his personal. “It is fully his (Adviser Wahiduddin) personal opinion,” he said, clarifying from the CA’s press wing during a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy. Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Saturday said he would like to see a politically elected government next year. Diplomats from EU member states to meet CA Dr Yunus Monday "I think we'll see a politically elected government next year. This is my opinion, but I'm not sure what will happen," he told a conference organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said reform was the key word of the July-August student-led mass uprising and his government is committed to carrying out major reforms before holding a "free and fair" election. He said the interim government would act as a facilitator of the reform process and has set up 15 reform commissions so far to fix key institutions left broken by the dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina. Prof Yunus made the remarks when Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, an adviser to the IMF and World Bank and a former head of UNDP, met him at the State Guest House Jamuna.