NN Online:
The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has refuted recent articles by Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut, accusing her of spreading misinformation and portraying Bangladesh in a false and Islamophobic light.
In a statement released Friday on its verified Facebook page CA Press Wing Facts, the press wing described Bulut’s writings—published in The European Conservative, The Front Page, and the Gatestone Institute—as “sensationalist” and “deeply misleading,” particularly regarding claims of rising extremism under Bangladesh’s interim government.
One article titled “The Talibanization of Bangladesh,” published on June 15, 2025, echoed similar claims made earlier in February. Bulut alleged that the 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh was hijacked by Islamists and supported by the U.S., leading to the appointment of Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus as head of the interim government.
The press wing rejected this narrative as “baseless,” asserting that the movement was a broad-based, democratic uprising involving citizens from all walks of life, including minorities, and not driven by radical elements. It added that Dr Yunus was chosen through national consensus, not foreign influence.
Bulut further alleged that minorities were being systematically targeted, citing the death of Hindu leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy as a key example. However, the press wing clarified that multiple investigations—including one by The Daily Star, which later retracted its initial report—found no evidence of foul play. Medical reports indicated Roy died of natural causes, not violence.
The statement also challenged statistics from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) and the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), which claimed thousands of attacks on minorities. A government review found most incidents were either politically motivated or false, with only a small fraction having any communal basis. Investigations revealed that several reported minority deaths stemmed from personal disputes, thefts, or unrelated crimes.
The press wing also criticized the RRAG for exaggerating incidents of political violence and mischaracterizing criminal cases as politically motivated. Examples include the Nachol double murder, falsely labeled a political killing, and the death of Arina Begum, proven to be domestic in nature.
The statement concluded that Uzay Bulut’s reporting suffers from selective sourcing and ideological bias, echoing discredited claims from previous years and contributing to a distorted international narrative that favors the ousted Awami League regime.
The interim government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, and called for responsible journalism that reflects the realities on the ground.
