Bangladesh slams Indian media for spreading fake news
Dhaka says Indian media fabricated a story claiming Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus gifted the Pakistan flag showing India’s Northeast as Bangladeshi territory
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has called out Indian television network India Today for spreading fake news about Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, after it falsely claimed he gifted Pakistan’s top military officer a flag showing India’s northeastern region as part of Bangladesh.
The government said the India Today report published on October 27 was “entirely false and imaginary,” describing it as a deliberate attempt to mislead audiences and damage Bangladesh’s image.
Officials clarified that Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus did not present any flag but gifted Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, an illustrated compilation titled “The Art of Triumph.”
The compilation — published by the July Memorial Foundation — features vibrant graffiti created by Bangladeshi students during the July Uprising, a mass movement that symbolized resistance and sacrifice. It serves as an illustrated documentary of the revolution achieved through the determination of students and ordinary citizens.
According to the government, the book’s cover depicts a blood-red graffiti-style map of Bangladesh behind Shaheed Abu Sayed, a student martyr of the July Uprising. Because the image was drawn as graffiti, officials said, minor artistic variations may appear, but India Today’s claim that any part of India’s northeastern region was included in the artwork is “completely and demonstrably false.” A comparative analysis, they added, shows the map in the graffiti “almost perfectly reflects the true map of Bangladesh.”
Authorities also noted that The Art of Triumph has previously been gifted to several world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, former U.S. President Joe Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “This is an artistic collection celebrating Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy and justice — not a political statement,” the government said.
Dhaka said such fabricated stories from Indian media undermine professional integrity and spread disinformation across the region. It urged responsible journalism, stressing that truth and verification must remain central to cross-border reporting.
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