Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has protested a news article with false information, titled “Indian students flee Dhaka amid violent clashes, PM Sheikh Hasina airlifted,” published online as well as a related post on the X handle of India Today NE on July 21, 2024. "We request all the news outlets, including the India Today NE, to remain vigil and ensure objective and balanced reporting taking account of the sensitivity of the issue," reads a rejoinder sent by the Bangladesh High Commission.  Shaban Mahmood, Minister (Press) sent the rejoinder to the media outlet on behalf of the High Commission on July 22.  While the article was premised on misleading information in more detail, the X post reads: “Amidst this chaos, reports confirmed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was airlifted from her residence in Dhaka. Her current whereabouts remain unknown.” Read more: It's your internal affair but we are with you: Diplomats to govt Although both the article and the post were subsequently taken down within a few hours, the misinformation on the status of the Government of Bangladesh went viral within a short span of time, and triggered huge confusion and anxiety among people at home and abroad, the rejoinder reads. "On behalf of the High Commission of Bangladesh, I express my sheer disappointment at the aforesaid erroneous article and post. As you are well aware, our country is going through a challenging time due to the ongoing student protests," reads the rejoinder.  “This kind of misinformation and reporting based on rumour at the time of such critical moment of any country may misguide the people and even add fuel to the crisis and turn the situation into more chaotic,” said the High Commission.  Moreover, such kind of reporting, without gauging the sensitivity, does not only negatively affect the people and the society at large, but also puts the credibility of any news outlet in question.  On July 21, 2024, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh delivered a historic verdict on reforming the quota system in the public service employment.  Read more: Diplomats witnessing destruction in Dhaka were stunned: Foreign Minister The court ordered 93% of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system, which has been the demand of the students.  While welcoming the order of the apex court of the country, the Government of Bangladesh has also taken a slew of measures to ensure safety and security of the people and property, said the High Commission.  With this, the situation has significantly improved, and it is expected that normalcy will return soon, it said.

A group of around prominent 200 Bangladeshi Americans have said the recent letter from six US congressmen to President Joe Biden – demanding stricter sanctions against the Bangladesh government – contains “false and misleading information.” The claim in the congressmen’s letter, “Since Sheikh Hasina’s rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved,” is categorically false and hides the real reasons behind the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, they said. In particular, the letter ignores the October 2001 post-national election violence unleashed on the Hindu community by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami led coalition, the Bangladeshi Americans said. Also read: State of Christians in Bangladesh: Archbishop Emeritus Patrick D'Rozario rejects 6 US congressmen’s letter to Biden The congressmen’s letter also contains “incorrect information” about the persecution of the Christian population in Bangladesh under the current government, they observed. “We, the undersigned Bangladeshi Americans, request the congressmen to withdraw the false information from the letter,” they said. The wrong information would not only undermine the credibility of the congressmen’s stance on minority rights in Bangladesh but also jeopardize the security and safety of the undersigned Bangladeshi Americans, according to their statement. Also read: 6 congressmen’s letter to Biden a ‘false projection’ of the state of Bangladesh’s minorities, community leaders say Noted Bangladeshi Hindu, Christian and Buddhist leaders have already rejected the claims about the state of minority communities in Bangladesh made in the congressmen’s letter as categorically false. They also indicated that false claims hide the real culprits behind minority persecution in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad leader Rana Dasgupta said that the congressmen’s claim of Hindu population being “halved” under Sheikh Hasina’s rule is a “travesty of truth.” “We understand that the US elected representatives sign many statements. But false information in congressmen’s letter to President Biden is concerning and detrimental to the Bangladeshi minority communities,” wrote the Bangladeshi Americans. Also read: Letters from 6 MEPs and 6 US congressmen: Netizens point out curious similarities, including misspelling Bangladesh PM’s name “We again request the congressmen to withdraw the false and misleading information from the letter for the security, safety, and wellness of the Bangladesh minority and undersigned Bangladeshi Americans who have been actively fighting for minority rights in Bangladesh for decades,” they said. The signatories are: 1. Dr. Nuran Nabi, Councilman, NJ 2. Prof. ABM Nasir, Professor, NC 3. Abu Ahmed Musa, Councilman, MI 4. Rana Hasan Mahmud, Engineer, CA 5. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Professor, PA 6. Shikrithy Barua, IT Engineer, NY 7. Abul Khan, State Representative, NH 8. Mahbubul Alam Taiyab, Milborne City Mayor, NH 9. Nurul Hassan, Councilman, Milborne City, NH 10. Dr. Sufian A Khandakar, Scientist 11.Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, Scientist and Writer 12. Dr. Joti Prakash Dutta, Writer, FL 13. Prof. Abu Naser Rajib, CA 14. Morshed Alam, Activist, NY 15. Ahad Ahmed, Engineer, MI 16. Dr. Baman Das Basu, Scientist, MA 17. Safeda Basu, Activist, MA 18. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY 19. Dr. Mohshin Patowari, Professor, NY 20. Jamal Uddin Hossain, Cultural Personality, AL 21. Dr. Mohshin Ali, Writer, NY 22. Dastagir Jahangir, Journalist, VA 23. Fahim Reza Noor, Activist, NY 24. Dr. Zeenat Nabi, Scientist, NJ 25. Hassan Ferdous, Columnist & Writer, NY 26. Maj (retd) Manzur Ahmed, Community Leader, NY 27. Dr.Pradip Kar, Scientist,NY 28. Dr. Protap Das, Physician, NY 29. Kowshik Ahmed, Editor, NY 30. Lovlu Ansar, Editor,NY 31. Rafayet Choudhury, Activist, NY 32. Abu Taher, Activist, PA 33. Soud Choudhury, Activist, NY 34. Dr. Mizan R Miah, Professor, IL 35. Dr. Jamil Talukdar, Professor, WI 36. Dr.Shahadat Hossain, Professor, NY 37. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Professor, NJ 38. Dr. Khandakar Monsur, Scientist, MD 39. Dr. Syed Abu Hasnat, Teacher, MA 40. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Businessman ,GA 41. Tajul Imam, Artist, NY 42. Abdur Rahim Badsha, Businessman, NY 43. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Scientist 44. Abdul Qader Mia, Community Leader, NY 45. Zakaria Choudhury, Community Leader, NY 46. Bedarul Islam Babla, Commuinity leader, NY 47.Mintu Rahman, Community Leader, GA 48. Nadira Rahman, Community Leader, GA 49. Arefin Babul, Community Leader, GA 50. Dr.Shahab Siddique, Scientist, GA 51. Mohammed Ali Babul, Lawyer, NY 52. Mohammad Mowla, Community Leader, GA 53. Jharna Choudhury, Theater Artist, NY 54. Lutfun Nahar Lata, Artist, NY 55. Dr. Faruk Azam, Physician, NJ 56. Mian Helal, Businessman, NJ 57. Shamsun Nahar Helen, Technologist, NJ 58. Iqbal Yousuf, Community Leader, MA  59. Atiqur Rahman, Community Leader 60. Rumi Kabir, Writer, GA 61. Ali Ahmad Farish, Businessman, MI 62. Rashed Ahmed, Community Leader, NY 63. Sitangshu Guha, Journalist, NY 64. Dr. Dilip Nath, Teacher, NY 65. MA Salam, Community Leader, NJ 66. Fakir Ilias, Poet, NY 67. Mishuk Selim, Poet, NY 68. Khaled Sharifuddin, Poet, NY 69. Abu Sayeed Ratan, Poet, NY 70. Hassan Al Abdullah, Poet, NY 71. Mithun Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY 72. Minhaj Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY 73. Shakawat Ali, Community Leader, NY 74. Dr. Abdul Baten, Scientist, NY 75. Dr. Hasan Masud, Teacher, NY 76. Shahid Hasan, Artist, NY 77. Rathindra Nath Roy, Artist, NY 78. Istiaq Rupu, Poet, NY 79. Gopal Sannal, Community Leader,NY 80. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Tuku, Businessman, NY 81. Dr. Nahid Banu, Scientist, NJ 82. Mahbub Reza Rahim, Community Leader, AZ 83. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ 84. Golam Faruk Bhuyan, Businessman, NJ 85.  Rehan Reza,Community Leader, KS 86. Dr. Hasan Mamun, Teacher, NJ 87. Zahedul Mahmud Zami, Community Leader, CA 88. Towfik Solaiman Khan, Community Leader, CA 89. Nazrul Alam, Community Leader, CA 90. Saifur Rahman Osmani, Broadcaster, CA 91. Dr.Golam Mostofa, Professor, PA 92. Rabiul Karim Belal, Businessman, PA 93. Dr. Ahsan Choudhury, Engineer, TX 94. Hashmot Mobin, Community Leader, TX 95. Shah Halim, Community Leader, TX 96. Maggie Halim, Community Leader, TX 97. Dr. Anisul Aslam, Physician, CA 98. Mohammad Billah Rana, Businessman, CA 99. Hadi Billah Roba, Businessman, NV 100. Quazi Shahraiar Rahman, Engineer, CA 101. Karimul Haque Chowdhury, Businessman, CA 102. Bashir Ather, Scientist, CA 103. Tapan Mondol, Social Worker, CA 104. Shah Alam, Community Leader, CA  105. Maminul Haque Bachchu, Sr. Community Leader, CA 106. Tasnim Salam Aslam, Engineer, CA 107. Abed Mansur, Community Leader, CA 108. Habib Ahmed Tia, Community Leader, CA 109. Mofazzal Hussain, Community Leader, CA 100. Mohammad Hossain Rana, Community Leader, CA 101. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA 102. Asaduzzaman Bachchu, Businessman, MI 103.  Dewan Zamir,Engineer, CA 104. Belal Beg, columnist, NY 105. Nini Wahed, Journalist, NY 106. Dr.Farjahan Rahman Shawon, Professor,NC 107. Dr.Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY 108. Khurshid Anowar Bablu, Community Leader, NY 109. Hassan Al Abdullah, Writer, NY 110. Syed Abu Hasnat, Professor, MA 111. Dr.Delwar Hossain, Professor, AL 112. Iqbal Yusuf, Director, Intl.Sustainable Development 113. Atiqur Rahman, Businessman, FL 114. Hassan Jahangir, Businessman, FL 115. Junaid Akhter,Community Leader, FL 116. Dr. Hemayet Ullah, Professor 117. Dr. Mahbub Pramanik 118. Dr.Purobi Bosu, Writer, FL 119. Farhana Iliyas Tuli, Poet, NY 120. Syed Mamunur Rashid, Poet, NY 121. Swapnil Firoze, Poet, NY 122. Liton Ahmed, Activist, NY 123. Golam Mohiuddin, Musician, GA 124. Nazrul Islam, Community Leader, GA 125.Farque Ahmed, Community Leader, GA 126. Mohin, Community Leader, FA 127. Abul Hassan, Community Leader, GA 128. Ahmadhur Parvez, Community Leader, GA 129. Dr. Mohammed Nasim, Community Leader, GA 130. Mahmud Abbas, Community Leader, GA 131. Mohammad Akbar Khan, Community Leader, GA 132. Reza Karim, Community Leader, GA 133. Ali Hosen, Community Leader, GA 134. Pintu Yusuf, Community Leader, GA 135. Nurul Kabir Nahid, Community Leader, GA 136. Mojammel,Community Leader, GA 137.Moshiur Rahman, Businessman, GA 138. Russel Bhuiyan, Businessman, Ga 139. Arefin Pial, Teacher, GA 140. Mahrufur Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA  141. Borhan Uddin, Community Leader, GA 142. Rashedul Karim, Businessman, GA 143. Bindu Hossen, Singer, GA 144. Rezaul Bari, Activist, NY 145. Abul Bashar Chunnu,Activist,NY 146. Nabendu Dutta,Professor, NY 147. Siraj Ahemd Sohag, Community Leader, NY 148. Shyamal Chakraborti, Community Leader, NY 149. Pranobondhu Chakraborti, Engineer, NY 150. Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Community Leader, NY 151. Parimal Karmakar, Community Leader, NY 152. Jhorna Chowhdury, Artist, NY 153. Syed Rashid Ahmed Karmani, Businessman, NY 154. Ruksana Karmani, NY 155. Farque Ahmed, Businessman, NY 156. Dilara Ahmed, Activist, NY 157. Touqid Chowdhury, Activist, NY 158. Saniyet Ahmed Chowdhury, Engineer, NY 159. Toujiat Chowdhury, PhD student, NY 160. Alim Khan Akash, Businessman, NY 161. Sabita Das, Activist, NY 162.Abul Bhashar Bhuiyan,NY 163. Shareb Ahmed,NY 164.Rontu Lal Das,NY 165. Harun Chowdhury, VA 166. Santosh Barua, Poet, VA 167. Nupur Chowdhury, VA 168. Gourab Golpo, Artist, VA 169. Nasrin Ahmed Munna, Artist, VA 170. Dr.Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ 171. Nahid Chowdhury, Businessman, NJ 172. Mir Chowdhury, Community Leader, NJ 173. Rafiqul Islam, Businessman, CA 174. Tasnim Salam Aslam ,CA 175. Mizanul Kabir, P.O., CA 176. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA 177. Asaduzzaman Bacchu, Community Leader, CA 178. Masud Chowdhury, Community Leader, CA 179. Mohammed Hossain Rana, Businessman, CA 180. Ruhul Amin, Businessman, MI 181. Abdul Muhit Mukta, Businessman, MI 182. Mohoshin Uddin Tipu, Businessman, MI 183. Md. Sirajuddin Tipu, Community Leader, MI 184. Dr.Adnan Morshed, Professor, WA 185. Dr.Atiar Rahman, FDA statistics, VA 186. Dr. Sadek Chowdhury, VS  187. Alauddin Ahmed, Community Leader, VA 188. Dr.Zahed Chowdhury, Software Engineer, VA 189. Nizamuddin Ahmed, CEO, Huge Network, VA 190. Saleh Ahmed,Activist, VA 191. Swapnik Khan,Activist,TX 192. Redwan Chowdhury, Community Leader, D.C. Read more: China says PM Hasina's remarks against sanctions reflect a ‘large part of int'l community's mind’