Ministry condemn Indian media's false and misleading report on Law Adviser

On Thursday, the online portal News Arena India made a series of false, defamatory, and irresponsible claims against Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, under the headline “B'desh legal advisor meets top LeT Operative post J&K attack.”

The article accuses the Law and Justice Advisor of meeting with a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a fiction with no basis in fact.

Correction of False Claims and Misrepresentations:

1. Misidentification of Hefazat-e-Islam Leaders

Hefazat-e-Islam, an umbrella platform of Islamic scholars and organisations operating legally within Bangladesh. The individuals referenced in the article are Hefazat-e-Islam leaders; they are not associated with any terrorist organisation.

Thousands of Hefazat-e-Islam members were victims of politically motivated, false, and fabricated charges filed during the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina. As part of the new government’s commitment to justice and legal reform, Dr Nazrul, in his official capacity as Law Adviser, met with a Hefazat delegation seeking redress for these past abuses. 

Further, this meeting was held at least three days prior to the date cited by News Arena India, and it focused exclusively on legal matters. The delegation submitted a list of cases to the Ministry of Law and requested a photograph with the Law and Justice Advisor, which is customary for such meetings.

Hefazat-e-Islam officials are among the political leaders who participate in the political dialogue initiated by Bangladesh’s Consensus Building Commission. The group holds meetings with representatives from western embassies in Bangladesh, reflecting the broad international engagement and legitimacy of the group’s current political role.

2. International Perspective on Hefazat-e-Islam

It is important to note that independent human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented and criticised the previous regime’s brutal crackdown on opposition activists including Hefazat members. These reports underline the political nature of the cases against them and support the ongoing efforts to provide justice.

3. Misrepresentation of Social Media Activity

The report falsely claims that the Law and Justice Advisor posted an inflammatory message on Facebook implicating Indian leaders in the Pahalgam massacre. In reality, the post in question was authored by an Indian citizen criticising security lapses. He shared the post with a caption condemning the attack. Recognising the potential for misinterpretation, he voluntarily deleted the post within hours.

The Law and Justice Advisor unequivocally condemns the heinous Pahalgam massacre, extends his prayers to the victims and their families, and calls for swift justice against the perpetrators. This reckless and unfounded reporting by News Arena India represents a dangerous deviation from journalistic integrity and truth. We call upon all media outlets to uphold the principles of responsible reporting and to verify facts before publication.