Dhaka, Dec 08 (V7N) – Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, urged independent media and rights groups to investigate reports of alleged attacks on the Hindu community during post-revolution periods, cautioning against skepticism if the government leads such inquiries.

Speaking on Saturday, Alam labeled the issue "serious," claiming that Bangladesh has been "unfairly portrayed" in international media and parliamentary discussions in influential countries. He noted calls for UN peacekeeping intervention, based on potentially exaggerated reports.

In a verified Facebook post, Alam emphasized the interim government’s efforts, alongside political, religious, and civil society leaders, to maintain calm during religious tensions. He lauded "extraordinary political maturity" exhibited by some in addressing these incidents.

However, Alam accused the Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council of "systematically exaggerating" reports of violence against minorities, urging credible newspapers and international rights groups, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, to conduct fair investigations.

While acknowledging the reality of violence and discrimination against minorities in Bangladesh, Alam highlighted recurring incidents linked to alleged blasphemous Facebook posts. He stressed that the country is not yet ideal in terms of communal harmony.

Referring to Netra News' investigation into the Council's claims, Alam noted discrepancies, saying most of the nine Hindu deaths reported by the Council were linked to political or personal conflicts rather than communal hatred. He also criticized the Council for a similar "controversial" report on minority attacks in July.

Alam expressed concern over the international impact of these reports, citing a recent speech by a British MP that appeared to rely on the Council’s findings. The Council’s report on post-revolution Hindu attacks reportedly garnered over 11 million mentions on social media and was extensively cited by Hindu American groups, Indian newspapers, and commentators.

Describing the Council's reports as a major source of misinformation, Alam called for fair investigations to dispel misconceptions about anti-minority violence in Bangladesh.

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