Foreign adviser urges NRBs to counter Indian media misinformation
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has called on Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to raise their voices against misinformation and disinformation about Bangladesh propagated by Indian media outlets.
Speaking at an event this morning (11 January), he said, "Over the past four months, the most propaganda against Bangladesh has been spread through Indian media. NRBs must play a role by raising their voice and presenting the correct situation of the country."
The adviser claimed that Indian media often portrays incidents inaccurately, particularly in cases of communal tension.
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"They are saying that Hindus are being slaughtered in Bangladesh, and their houses are being set on fire. Most of the incidents shown are untrue. Some events occur during transitional periods but they are not exclusive to Hindus. If 10 houses are burned, perhaps eight belong to Muslims, yet the focus is only on two Hindu houses, presenting it as a religious conflict," he said.
He stressed the need to project a positive image of Bangladesh globally.
"We must first identify Bangladesh's image and focus on our positive stories. For instance, when expatriates return large sums of money they find, our image improves. Conversely, reports of Bangladeshis dying or being caught crossing the Mediterranean damage our reputation," said Touhid.
He highlighted a lack of manpower to resolve the challenges faced by Bangladeshi expatriates and highlighted the lack of manpower to resolve their issues.
"There are 3.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, among whom 200,000 face problems. However, only 20 people are available to assist them. Our demand is high, but the resources are limited," he noted.
The foreign affairs adviser urged NRBs to take a proactive stance in combating misinformation and to contribute to shaping Bangladesh's narrative on the global stage.
The event, titled "Branding Bangladesh: NRB & UN Peacekeepers Leading the Way", was organised by the Centre for NRB at a hotel in the capital.
