Dhaka: Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has accused the Awami League (AL) of orchestrating a smear campaign against Chief Adviser Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus, following their ousting through a popular uprising.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shafiqul Alam claimed during a book launch at the Jatiya Press Club that millions of dollars are being spent to portray Professor Yunus as a militant leader, with Indian media allegedly involved in this campaign. Alam asserted that these efforts aim to depict the recent events in Bangladesh as a conspiracy rather than a mass uprising.
During his address, Alam described Sheikh Hasina with harsh terms, accusing her and her allies of attempting to challenge historical narratives in Bangladesh. He alleged that false claims were made about the deaths of policemen and the portrayal of Yunus as a militant leader. Alam further suggested that Indian media and Hasina’s supporters are heavily investing in this narrative shift.
The press secretary emphasized that there is a significant effort to rewrite Bangladesh’s history, particularly during the 15-year rule of the Awami League. Alam mentioned attempts to erase significant events such as the 1974 famine and accused the regime of neglecting proper documentation of historical events.
Alam also criticized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s economic policies, describing them as fragile and misrepresented in the media. He underscored the lack of proper documentation on the Liberation War, which he believes has allowed misrepresentation of historical figures.
Highlighting the alleged injustices during the AL regime, Alam accused them of smuggling vast amounts of money and committing human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and killings during protests.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BSS Managing Director Mahbub Morshed. In his remarks, Morshed stressed the importance of preserving the history of the July uprising through artworks and literature to combat authoritarian narratives.
The event concluded with calls for continued research and documentation of historical events to prevent the distortion of Bangladesh’s history and to maintain the spirit of the mass movement alive.