The Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus, addressed concerns about the proliferation of misinformation since the interim government assumed office, noting a significant increase in rumours across various media platforms.
In his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day and Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, he warned about deliberate attempts to destabilise the country through false information, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. He cited examples of manipulated images and misattributed incidents being circulated to create social unrest. He said, “To destabilize the country, false information is being spread one after another to confuse the public. Rumors are being spread through innovative methods, such as combining one image with another, creating photo cards with one event and passing off another country’s incident as our own, causing a stir on social media. As the election approaches, this will only get worse. You all know who is behind this and why.”
Speaking about the July uprising, he emphasised that its first phase had concluded successfully, with the second phase now commencing. He stressed the importance of remaining vigilant against rumours, saying, “The first phase of the July uprising has been successfully completed. With the end of the first phase, the second phase of the uprising has begun. We must always remember that we are in a state of war. Rumors’ are the most powerful weapon of the defeated forces against the July uprising. Whenever you encounter a rumor, you must trace its source. Do not ignore rumors.”
“Many experienced military experts are working behind these rumors day and night, with unlimited funds invested. Their main goal is to defeat the July uprising, but we will not let that happen,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate development regarding technological advancement, Dr Yunus announced ongoing negotiations with Elon Musk’s Starlink, anticipating finalisation within three months.
Yunus also talked about internal problems of the nations, citing corruption as harmful. “Just like the people of the country, the international community wants us to be free from corruption because they want to expand trade with us. Without eradicating corruption, business and trade will not progress. There is no future for Bangladesh without being free from corruption,” he said.
Further emphasising commitment to a corruption-free administration, Yunus stated they aim to “keep the current government term free from corruption” while ensuring citizens remain protected from “corruption fostered by government patronage in the future.”
Regarding politically motivated cases, he mentioned that “6,295 cases of politically motivated harassment filed during the previous fascist government’s tenure have been recommended for withdrawal,” with other similar cases being addressed gradually. During his address, Yunus also shared a positive outlook regarding inflation control, anticipating a reduction to under 8% by June. He noted that “In February, inflation dropped to 9.32%, the lowest in 22 months, and we expect it to fall further in the coming months.”
He also accused the previous administration of misappropriating $234 billion over the past 15 years, alleging cases of money laundering, including one instance where $33.3 million was transferred to a child’s bank account under the guise of educational expenses.
