“To err is human” or is Robi just ignorant? | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 18, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
“To err is human” or is Robi just ignorant?

Bangladesh

TBS Report
29 May, 2021, 11:05 am
Last modified: 29 May, 2021, 12:47 pm

Related News

  • India condemns vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh
  • Trinamool Congress, BJP condemn vandalism at Tagore’s ancestral home in Bangladesh
  • Robi sees 17.6% rise in Q1 profit, despite revenue drop
  • Now you can view Facebook photos, use Messenger without data balance on Robi
  • Robi introduces roaming pack purchase with local balance ahead of Hajj

“To err is human” or is Robi just ignorant?

Why wait days to apologise for a mistake that was “unintentional”?

TBS Report
29 May, 2021, 11:05 am
Last modified: 29 May, 2021, 12:47 pm
Photo taken from Khilkhil Kazi's post
Photo taken from Khilkhil Kazi's post

Robi, the second largest mobile network operator in Bangladesh, apologised days after receiving backlash for their "unintentional mistake" over a photo mishap of a grand scale.

The 122nd birthday of the National Poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam, was observed in the country on 25 May. On the occasion, Robi also made a post paying tribute to the legendary poet on 27 May, two days after the celebrations. However, the telco giant used a picture of another great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore.

The post immediately received a tonne of backlash.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The granddaughter of the poet, Khilkhil Kazi, shared on her Facebook account that the family will take legal action against Robi. She wrote, "Robi should leave Bangladesh. Those who do not know the National Poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam have no right to stay in this country. Condemn Robi. Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Poet Rabindranath Tagore were both insulted. We are going to take legal action on behalf of the family."

Khilkhil Kazi also shared a screenshot of the initial post made by Robi with a timestamp that says 6hr, meaning the post with the wrong picture was up for at least 6 hours. Shouldn't a company with such a diverse network be able to remove the post within such a long time?

Zoya Sneha Ahmed, great-granddaughter of Kazi Nazrul Islam shared, "Should I be shedding some light on the fact that why this acknowledgement of the mistake has been made? I'm sure everyone applauding this "acknowledgement of error" post doesn't know what and how your authority tried to hide this fact. By giving this post definitely gets up your brand value, but I think everyone should know why this has been done and the ways authorities from your end tried to hide this issue."

"This should have been done the day it was posted, not after 3 days, then why this sudden apologetic post? Everyone makes mistakes, but to find ways to hide your mistakes from such a renowned corporate company is not acceptable. Coming from the poet's family, I am disheartened and heavily disappointed by the fact how you needed calls to make this post. Our family has worked with Robi before, someone from your organization could have reached us directly, and not due to pressure from external sources. Robi I hope this makes sense," she added.

Robi posted their apology three days after the incident, it read, "We are extremely sorry. Our concerned agency posted a wrong picture with a post from Robi's page on 25 May for the birthday of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. We seek your forgiveness for this unintentional mistake. We removed the post as soon as we noticed it."

This is problematic, as a "mistake" of this scale should have been amended as soon as possible. Why wait three days to apologise for a mistake that was "unintentional"?

And with all the comments under their post which echo "to err is human" sentiment, it may get unnoticed that not all the comments can be seen under the post. It very well may be that Robi is regulating the comment section and only keeping the positive ones.

The Business Standard contacted Khilkhil Kazi after Robi posted the apology. She said that the family has not accepted the apology and will be proceeding with legal action.

Khilkhil Kazi told TBS, "The apology came after pressuring them for days, they did not apologise willingly. The post had to have been approved by several people before they posted it on their page. How do all of these people not know who the National Poet of Bangladesh is or who Rabindranath Tagore is? How could they approve this? We are in the process of filing a defamation case against Robi."

Top News

Robi / national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam / apologise / Rabindranath Tagore

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • US President Donald Trump points a finger as he departs for Canada to attend the G7 Leaders' Summit, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, US, June 15, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
    Trump demands Iran's 'unconditional surrender' as Israel-Iran air war rages on
  • Infographics: Duniya Jahan/TBS
    How Israel's secret nuclear arsenal comes under spotlight amid attacks on Iran
  • Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and US president-elect Donald Trump. Photo: Collected
    'Not going to kill Khamenei, at least for now', says Trump, claiming US knows Iran's supreme leader's location

MOST VIEWED

  • Former Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem. Photo: Collected
    ACC launches inquiry against ex-Bangladesh envoy Saida Muna, husband over laundering Tk2,000cr
  • Infograph: TBS
    Ship congestion at Ctg port lingers as berthing time rises
  • A view of Iranian missiles across the sky as seen by Biman pilot Enam Talukder. Photo: Enam Talukder
    Biman pilot witnessed Iran's missiles flying towards Israel
  • Power Division wants Tk56,000cr PDB loans turned into subsidy
    Power Division wants Tk56,000cr PDB loans turned into subsidy
  • BNP leader Ishraque Hossain held a view-exchange meeting with waste management officials and Dhaka South City Corporation staff inside Nagar Bhaban on 16 June 2025. Photos: Hasan Mehedi
    Ishraque holds Nagar Bhaban meeting as 'Dhaka South mayor', says it’s people’s demand
  • Bangladesh gains bigger share in US apparel market as China loses ground, sees 29% export growth in Jan-Apr
    Bangladesh gains bigger share in US apparel market as China loses ground, sees 29% export growth in Jan-Apr

Related News

  • India condemns vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh
  • Trinamool Congress, BJP condemn vandalism at Tagore’s ancestral home in Bangladesh
  • Robi sees 17.6% rise in Q1 profit, despite revenue drop
  • Now you can view Facebook photos, use Messenger without data balance on Robi
  • Robi introduces roaming pack purchase with local balance ahead of Hajj

Features

The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy

Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka

6h | Panorama
The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

1d | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

2d | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

4d | Mode

More Videos from TBS

What's behind the animosity between former allies Iran and Israel?

What's behind the animosity between former allies Iran and Israel?

3h | Others
21 Muslim countries condemn Israeli attack on Iran

21 Muslim countries condemn Israeli attack on Iran

3h | TBS World
News of The Day, 17 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 17 JUNE 2025

5h | TBS News of the day
Rising default loans threaten jobs, growth, trade

Rising default loans threaten jobs, growth, trade

7h | TBS Insight
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net