Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has strongly condemned recent reports published in sections of the domestic media claiming that he held a “secret meeting” with representatives of India. Describing the reports as misleading and irresponsible, he urged journalists and media outlets to refrain from publishing speculative stories without verifying the facts.
Dr Rahman clarified his position in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page at 9:19 a.m. on Thursday. In the post, he expressed disappointment that his remarks to an international news agency had been misinterpreted and presented in a manner that, he said, distorted the truth and confused the public.
According to Dr Rahman, the controversy arose from a recent interview he gave to the international news agency Reuters. During the interview, a Reuters journalist asked whether Jamaat-e-Islami or its leadership maintained any form of contact or dialogue with India, given that the country is Bangladesh’s closest neighbour. In response, Dr Rahman explained the context of a past encounter that has now been portrayed inaccurately.
He stated that in the middle of last year, following a period of serious illness and medical treatment, he returned home and received visits from numerous well-wishers. These included respected diplomats from various countries who came to enquire about his health as part of customary diplomatic courtesy. Among those visitors, he said, were two Indian diplomats who paid him a similar courtesy call at his residence.
Dr Rahman stressed that this was neither a political meeting nor a discussion involving bilateral negotiations. “Just as I spoke with diplomats from other countries, I exchanged polite and general conversation with them as well,” he explained. He added that his party had maintained transparency regarding such visits and had informed the public about meetings with diplomats from other nations.
However, he noted that on this occasion, the Indian diplomats requested that their visit not be publicised. Dr Rahman said he made it clear that while their wish would be respected, any future meeting involving substantive discussions on matters of mutual or national interest would be disclosed publicly. “There is nothing secretive about such engagements,” he emphasised.
Expressing his astonishment, Dr Rahman criticised certain media outlets for portraying this courtesy visit as a clandestine meeting. He warned that such reporting not only misleads readers but also undermines journalistic integrity. Calling for responsible journalism, he appealed to media professionals to verify facts and seek clarification before publishing sensitive claims.
Key Events at a Glance
| Timeframe | Event |
|---|---|
| Mid–last year | Dr Shafiqur Rahman falls ill and undergoes treatment |
| Post-recovery | Visits from local and foreign diplomats, including two from India |
| Recently | Interview given to Reuters |
| Thursday, 9:19 a.m. | Facebook post condemning misleading media reports |
Dr Rahman concluded by reiterating that transparency and truth should remain the cornerstone of both politics and journalism, and that unfounded narratives serve neither the public nor the profession.