Indian media should understand student revolution in Bangladesh properly: Adviser

Indian media's portrayal  of the recent student revolution against Sheikh Hasina as the rise of a religious power was deplorable, Social Welfare Advisor Sharmin S Murshid said, inviting the country's media personnel and society to visit Bangladesh to gain a deep understanding over the 5 August movement.

Speaking at a seminar titled "Dynamics of relationship with neighbours in post-Bangladesh student revolution under the prevailing regional geopolitical conditions," organised by the monthly Diplomat magazine at the Foreign Service Academy in the city on Thursday, she said Bangladesh would maintain warm relations with the neighbouring countries based on equity, justice and impartiality. 

She said the interim government of Professor Dr Mohammed Yunus had called for a revival of the South Asian Association of Regional Countries (SAARC) bloc, with a view to building a progressive and prosperous south Asia.

Terming South Asia as the most disintegrated region in the world, Sharmin S Murshid said that enhanced regional cooperation will certainly boost economic cooperation in the South Asian region.

"I would like to say that the country will be on the electoral road map along the path of reforms. So, let us all earn the trust and love of the people through work. We should stand by the people and keep them with us," she added.

"In return for the sacrifice of the students, we got an opportunity to establish democracy. Let's not throw it away," she said.

Terming Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India as the religious political one, Sharmin S Murshid deplored that the Indian media has portrayed the recent student revolution against autocratic Sheikh Hasina as the rise of a religious power.

Pointing at the recent violence over a certain religious community, Sharmin S Murshid termed the recent violence as a political clash, not a religious one, as a certain group of a community belongs to a certain political party, adding that people in Bangladesh irrespective caste, creed, religion and race in communal harmony.

Urging all sections of the society to work together, she said the current interim government must not be allowed to fail and Bangladesh will embark on an election roadmap through reform programmes.

Expressing concern at the "misinformation" and "disinformation" spread by the Indian media and society, the adviser urged the stakeholders concerned in Bangladesh to unite and work to counter Indian propaganda.