The Press Club of India has condemned remarks made by Shafiqul Alam, press secretary for the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s government, in which he referred to journalists who recently interviewed deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina as “Western journalists and their Indian bootlicking counterparts.”
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Press Club of India expressed strong disapproval of Shafiqul’s comments, calling them particularly reprehensible.
Press Club of India condemns the official spokesperson of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s government, Shafiqul Alam’s remarks for calling reporters from several outlets in India and abroad who recently interviewed former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina as “Western… pic.twitter.com/t01hVsDleR
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) November 11, 2025
The statement pointed out that Shafiqul, a former journalist himself, should have known better than to criticise professionals working for responsible media outlets. The statement also emphasised that such remarks were unbecoming of someone in a responsible position.
The Press Club of India, in its statement, called for an apology from Shafiqul for his derogatory remarks.
Neeraj Thakur, Secretary General of the Press Club of India, signed the statement, reaffirming the organisation’s stance against such comments and its demand for accountability.
