After the White House, the US Department of State has also trashed reports that claimed the United States was involved in former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. "That’s laughable," Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a regular briefing in Washington on August 13. He said any implication that the United States was involved in Sheikh Hasina’s resignation is absolutely false. "We have seen a lot of disinformation in recent weeks," Patel said. Read more: What Dhaka wants from Delhi: Ending border killings, conclusion of Teesta deal, supply of essential commodities He said they remain incredibly committed to strengthening information integrity across the digital ecosystem, especially with their partners in South Asia. Earlier, the White House ruled out any involvement of the United States behind the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, stressing that it is false. "So, we have had no involvement at all. Any — any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these — in these events is simply, simply false. That is not true," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a press briefing on August 12. She said this is a choice for and by the Bangladeshi people.   "We believe that the Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government, and that’s where we stand," said the White House Press Secretary. "Any allegations, certainly, we will continue to say, and I have said here, is simply not true," she added. A journalist mentioned that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reported to allies that she was thrown out — or forced to be out of power because the U.S. wanted to have one of the islands given to them - the United States of America.   Read more: Complaint lodged at International Crimes Tribunal against Hasina, top officials for crimes against humanity and genocide And since — because they didn’t agree to it, she was forced to resign, the questioner mentioned. The press secretary said they are going to continue to monitor the situation. 

The government of Bangladesh is considering an effective framework to hold those spreading disinformation and rumours accountable. "A framework on how to hold those who spread disinformation and rumors accountable is under consideration," State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad A Arafat, said on Saturday (January 20, 2024). Read: Referring to victims’ pleas, Sajeeb Wazed says BNP’s ‘disinformation campaign’ aimed at passing the blame on Awami League In preventing propaganda, he said, the government is ensuring that freedom of expression and media is not hindered. The information state minister made the announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter). Read more: US expresses concern over ‘deep fakes’ in Bangladesh election-related disinformation

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Sunday said stern action will be taken is anyone is found involved in spreading rumours over SSC question papers. “There is no scope of question leak in the this year’s SSC and equivalent exams, but rumours might spread and those will face tough punishment who will be found involved  in spreading rumours,” she said while talking to reporters after visiting Badda High School center in the capital on the first of the SSC and equivalent examinations.    Also Read: No chance of SSC question papers leaking: Dipu Moni Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naoufel , Secretary to the Department of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Soleman Khan, Directorate General of DSHE Nehal Ahmed and Dhaka Education Board Chairman Prof. Tapan Kumar, among others, were also present there. Social media platforms are being monitored round the clock to prevent spread of rumours, said Dipu Moni adding that action are being taken instantly if any attempt is made to spread rumours. Replying to a question over the next year’s SSC exam schedule, she said efforts are there to hold the next year’s exams ahead but it will be done taking opinion from teachers across the country. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams for 2023 began on Sunday across Bangladesh. Also Read: Single admission test for universities from next year: Dipu Moni SSC exams began at 10 am with Bangla 1st Paper. According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 20,72,163 candidates are sitting for this year’s SSC and equivalent exams.  

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said rumours are being spread that there is no money in the banks. “We are not facing problems by the grace of Allah. There is money in every bank,” she said. She was addressing the 30th National Council of BCL, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League, at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. The PM said a quarter with vested interest wants to mislead people. “We have created ‘Digital Bangladesh’, but they are using it against us,” she said. Sheikh Hasina harshly criticised a section of intellectuals and dignitaries who have “joined hands with BNP to oust the government.” Read more: ‘Just mention BNP-Jamaat’s misdeeds under their propaganda posts on social media’ “Many knowledgeable persons and dignitaries have joined hands with BNP – giving us theories and lectures on democracy… Many say that they are not intellectuals, rather intellectually disabled,” she said. She said those intellectuals have accepting a convict – sentenced on charges of August 21 grenade attack, money laundering and arms smuggling – as their leader. “My question is, why this attempt to snatch the rights of people by joining hands with such criminals?” – she asked. “Awami League believes in democracy and the power of people. So, AL handed over power in a peaceful manner,” she said, criticizing Khaleda Zia for holding an election with “no voters” on February 15, 1996. Read more: Women entrepreneurs can avail special opportunities in economic zones: PM Khaleda Zia was forced to step down in face of public movement after that lopsided election, she said, adding that BNP leaders should not forget that. Sheikh Hasina, also AL president, urged students including BCL activists to groom themselves as worthy citizens of Bangladesh so that they can contribute to the continuation of development. She asked the BCL leaders and activists to create public opinion so that killers and anti-liberation forces including razakar and Al-Badr cannot ever come to power in the country. The PM asked meritorious students among the BCL to pursue their studies properly, including technical education, and sit for PSC examination as an efficient administration is needed to govern the country. Read More: Dhaka, Delhi agree on security, border management to strengthen cooperation “Yes, we need politics. But at the same time, we need efficient administration and technical education,” she said. Sheikh Hasina extended her thanks to BCL for standing by the people during every national crisis, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent flood in Sylhet region.

After a Facebook post by Dhallywood star Pori Moni – tagging her husband Sariful Razz, popular actress Bidya Sinha Mim and film director Raihan Rafi – went viral and created uproar in Bangladeshi media, Mim has provided a statement. In a Facebook post from her verified profile, Mim asked all “not to be misled by baseless rumours”. In her post made earlier, Pori Moni asked Mim to be “satisfied with her own husband.” Read more: After string of blockbusters, Mim envisions another ‘sold out’ experience with ‘Damal’ Mim, in her post, asked fans and journalists not to be misguided by “false accusations”. “I am constantly trying to win the hearts of all, including fans and well-wishers, through my accomplishments and values instilled in me by my father and honesty taught by my mother. I have never been associated with anything in my professional life that may make my path questionable,” she wrote. Mim also wrote she is having the best time of her life after two of her films “Poran” and “Damal” have been hugely successful. Read more: Mim, Razz want to watch ‘Poran’ with elderly person denied entry to Cineplex for ‘lungi’ “At this particular time, a party – jealous of my success – is trying to hinder my journey by spreading rumours about me,” the actress wrote. “I have no words to criticise those who are spreading these baseless accusations against me without any evidence.” She also warned of legal action against those who are circulating these rumours against her. Read More: Pori to Mim: 'Your intimacy with Razz troubles me' Mim and Razz have earned nationwide accolades from movie fans for their performances in the films “Poran” and “Damal”.

Police on Friday arrested the prime accused and another person for spreading rumours that a teacher beat some students for not “wearing hijab” at a school in Naogaon. The rumour spread on social media led to a mob vandalising school property. Also read: Amodini Pal punished students for not wearing uniform, not over hijab: Probe report The arrestees have been identified as QM Sayeed Tito, 60, a resident of Upazila Sadar and Kazi Samshuzzoha Milon, 45, of Kushar Center area. The arrestees are among about 20-28 people against whom the teacher Amodini Pal filed a case for falsely implicating her in the incident. Amodini Pal, assistant headmistress of Daul Barbakpur High School in Naogaon’s Mohadevpur filed a case on April 9 against these people, including including the headmaster of the school Dharani Kant Barman, president of the school managing committee Mahmudul Hasan Sumon and Salauddin Ahmed, a resident of Gaherpur village in Porsha upazila. Later, police conducted a special drive and arrested the two from Librarypatti and Kushar Center areas of the upazila around 3:30 am on Friday, siad Azam Uddin Mahmud, officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mahadevpur Police Station. "We are trying to nab the other accused", he added. “On 7 April, the school was attacked following the rumour. Many people from the villages around the school attacked and vandalised property of the school”. Earlier, on 6 April, Amodini Pal, assistant headmistress of the school allegedly beat 16-18 female students in the 8th, 9th and 10th grades of the school “for not wearing school uniform”. Also read: Hijab row: Naogaon school headteacher files GD accusing 150 anonymous people Later, the incident was twisted into a “hijab” row and went viral on social media. On Saturday, a show-cause notice was served to the accused teacher ordered by the Upazila Secondary Education Officer. Upazila administration formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee submitted its report to Mahadevpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mizanur Rahman around 8pm on Monday. The report said, ‘Two teachers beat some students of the school for not wearing school uniform. Among them, there were Hindu female students and male students too'. However, the investigation report did not find anything that the students were beaten for wearing ‘hijab’.