Dhaka: Fact checking body BanglaFact has uncovered that the statement made by Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuj Alam regarding the July uprising has been distorted. Segments of his speech were edited out and presented misleadingly, leading to misinformation being circulated on social media.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BanglaFact published a report on its Facebook page highlighting a video that has been shared online. The video misleadingly claims that Adviser Alam commented, “Two thousand people were not martyred, there was just a conspiracy to remove Hasina,” regarding the July uprising. However, BanglaFact clarifies that the adviser’s original speech, delivered as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust on May 5, emphasized the misrepresentation of the July uprising by some media outlets.
In his speech, Adviser Alam noted that certain newspapers avoid using the term ‘July Uprising’ and instead refer to it as the ‘July Movement’. He criticized this portrayal, stating it aligns with an Indian narrative of a regime change, misrepresenting the uprising as a mere power changeover. He argued that no responsible media outlet should undermine the significance of the July uprising or reduce it to a simple political maneuvering.
BanglaFact concluded that critical parts of Md. Mahfuj Alam’s statement were omitted, leading to a distorted version being published. The organization stressed the importance of accurate reporting, particularly when addressing historical events like the July uprising.