Press Wing of the Chief Adviser’s (CA) office has accused former Information Commissioner and journalist Masuda Bhatti of spreading fake and misleading information about the United Nations and its relations with Bangladesh.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the CA’s Press Wing Fact Check claimed that Masuda Bhatti, widely known for her affiliation with the Awami League, has long been disseminating misinformation about Bangladesh. The statement refers to a recent video titled “UN Peacekeeping Mission is Being Cancelled”, in which Bhatti alleges that the United Nations is involved in a conspiracy to remove former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—an operation she dubs “July Terror.”
In the same video, Bhatti also claims that following the UN Secretary-General’s visit to Bangladesh, a project was launched to supply arms to Rakhine under the guise of a so-called “humanitarian corridor.” She further attributes a fabricated quote to Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, claiming that Lewis said: “Even if no political party participates, an election would be valid if people participate.”
Bhatti goes on to allege that Bangladesh is on the verge of losing its eligibility to participate in UN peacekeeping missions, suggesting that the missions are about to be canceled.
In one segment of the video, she presents a photo purportedly showing UN arms being transported through Bangladesh. However, a reverse image search confirmed that the photo has no relation to Bangladesh. It was originally taken from Shutterstock with a caption that reads: “On February 4, 2025, Palestinian trucks carry humanitarian aid through the Kerem Shalom border point toward Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.”
The same image was used by BBC, with a clearly stated caption confirming it to be related to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Masuda Bhatti’s claim about the establishment of a UN-supported corridor in Rakhine has also been proven false. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus dismissed the rumor as “entirely untrue.” According to him, during UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to Dhaka in March 2024, a proposal for a humanitarian aid corridor was indeed discussed but never moved beyond the conceptual stage.
The allegation that the United Nations conspired to oust former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not only baseless but also deeply disrespectful to the democratic movement of millions of Bangladeshis striving for justice and fair governance, the statement asserted.
It added that the July movement was not incited by any foreign power but was a spontaneous public uprising against long-standing oppression, authoritarian rule, and state-sponsored violence. So far, no credible evidence has emerged to suggest that the United Nations, the United States, or any other foreign actor incited or led the movement.
The way Masuda Bhatti presented Gwyn Lewis’s comments on elections was also misleading. On June 4, Gwyn Lewis clearly stated: “Even if the Awami League does not participate in the next election, it can still be considered inclusive if the people are able to participate properly.”
She emphasized that, from the UN’s perspective, an inclusive election means that every Bangladeshi citizen should have the opportunity to engage in the electoral process and have their voices heard.
Bhatti’s claim that Bangladesh is on the verge of being disqualified from UN peacekeeping missions is “completely false,” the statement said. No such evidence or official statement from the United Nations has been released to date.
Masuda Bhatti, who was appointed as Information Commissioner during the Awami League regime, was removed from her post on January 21, 2025, on grounds of proven serious misconduct. Since then, she has been persistently spreading misleading information through social media platforms, the statement further alleged.