Smelling coups smacks of disinformation hypes

Dhaka rebuts a recent spate of "unfounded" stories in certain Indian media outlets, such as The Economic Times and India Today, smelling 'coups' or 'instability within Bangladesh Army' as not only baseless but also deeply irresponsible.

"Such disinformation campaigns undermine the principles of non-interference and severely diminish respect while also eroding the credibility of the media outlets involved," a government statement said Thursday.

The statement makes it clear that Bangladesh is a stable, democratic nation with strong institutions, including its armed forces who have consistently demonstrated professionalism and commitment to protecting national interests, safeguarding the people, and the constitution.

"These sensationalist reports, which are completely devoid of factual evidence, appear to be driven by an agenda that prioritise speculations over truth, harming the spirit of regional cooperation and mutual respect."

By peddling such narratives, these media outlets not only jeopardise journalistic integrity but also risk inflaming unnecessary tensions between two neighbouring nations.

Dhaka notes that the people of both India and Bangladesh deserve better than to be subjected to "fear-mongering and divisive propaganda". It is imperative that media organisations adhere to ethical journalism, verify facts, and refrain from spreading unverified claims that damage bilateral relations.

"We urge these outlets to retract such stories, issue clarifications, and recommit to responsible reporting. If creating rifts is the sole purpose of such propagandist outlets, both nations need to unequivocally abhor, dispel, and discredit them. Ignoring such propaganda in the plea of free speech is tolerance of radical misinformation."

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com