In a post via its official Facebook page, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing stated that controversial propagandist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, in a June 9 EurAsian Times op-ed, has falsely claimed that Muhammad Yunus aims to become the “Sultan” of a “Second Republic” by dismantling Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution.
In his speculative column, Choudhury alleged that Yunus’s so-called “July Declaration” would transform the interim government into a “revolutionary government,” granting him the power to oust the president and army chief while replacing the military with an “Islamic Revolutionary Army.” He further suggested that Yunus might declare this “Second Republic” from abroad, appoint jihadist loyalists, and convert Bangladesh into an “Islamic Republic” or “Caliphate” with no elections.
Choudhury also made unfounded claims, alleging that the UN Fact-Finding Report linked Yunus to extremist factions behind violent campaigns aimed at destabilizing the state.
To gain US backing, Choudhury contended that Yunus would offer strategic assets, including Chittagong Port, the Myanmar Transit Corridor, and St. Martin’s Island, for US military use.
Read the propaganda op-ed: https://ghostarchive.org/archive/repul
It is crucial to note that Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has spearheaded numerous misinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting Bangladesh’s interim government and undermining the country’s post-fascism democratic progress.
However, such imaginary fictions are completely baseless and are devoid of even an iota of truth.
Contrary to the claim of a “second republic” or “revolutionary government,” Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on June 6 announced that Bangladesh will hold the 13th parliamentary elections in the first half of April next year. The “July Charter” will not dismantle the Constitution nor transform the government. Instead, it will serve as a reform agenda developed with consensus from all political parties. Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus stated that the “July Charter” will contain a list of proposals made by the Reform Commission to build a welfare-oriented state. By signing it, political parties will pledge to implement them.
Source: https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/280772
The idea of an “Islamic Republic” or “Caliphate” is entirely baseless propaganda. The interim government is made up of respected technocrats, legal experts, and civil society leaders, all of whom are committed to secular values. There is no evidence suggesting Islamist influence over the government, which has worked to uphold Bangladesh’s long-standing commitment to secularism.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury claimed that the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) Fact-Finding Report confirms that extremist factions, operating in close coordination with Yunus, carried out violent campaigns to destabilize the state. However, this is completely false. The UN report did not mention any coordination between Dr. Yunus and violent mobs. In Chapter 6, the report states: “Violent mobs engaged in serious acts of revenge violence, including killings, targeting police and Awami League officials, especially from early August onwards.” The report accused the previous government under Sheikh Hasina of ordering deadly crackdowns that killed up to 1,400 people.
See: https://www.ohchr.org/…/ohchr-fftb-hr-violations-bd.pdf
Choudhury contended that Yunus would offer strategic assets, including Chittagong Port, the Myanmar Transit Corridor, and St Martin’s Island, for US military use. However, the interim government’s port management initiative aims to increase port capacity and create employment, not to gain US backing. The claim of providing a corridor to Rakhine State is a complete lie. Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus previously labeled such rumors as “complete lies.” The Chief Adviser explained that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during his March 2024 visit to Dhaka, proposed a relief channel for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, but the matter stayed at the proposal stage.
Source: https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/280755
The claim about St Martin’s Island is also blatant fake news. In 2023, the US State Department rejected all allegations that it planned to take over Saint Martin’s Island after Hasina and her party leaders accused Washington of pressuring Dhaka to lease the territory for a military base.
See: https://perma.cc/W8J4-7WG7
Hasina later claimed that the US played a role in her ouster to gain control of the island, an accusation the White House has denied.
See: https://perma.cc/4VRP-Y6VQ
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who runs the Weekly Blitz portal, has been condemned by international journalist rights organisations for spreading disinformation targeting dissidents. He has also been convicted of inciting interreligious discord and embezzlement, further undermining his reliability as a source.
https://www.indiatvnews.com/…/bangladeshi-journalist…