23/05/2025
Misinformation Watch: Businessworld Story on Dr. Yunus is Unsupported and Misleading
On May 23, Indian media outlet Businessworld, owned by the ABP Group, published a sensational article falsely claiming that Bangladesh’s interim leader, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is preparing to flee the country via private jet. The article further alleges—based on remarks from controversial Bangladeshi media figure Nabonita Chowdhury—that Yunus’s associates are involved in an international assassination plot targeting Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman.
Read the propaganda article: https://archive.ph/tcCOf
These claims are entirely unsubstantiated and deeply irresponsible. There is no evidence that Dr. Yunus intends to leave the country, nor is there any basis for the allegation of an assassination conspiracy. These assertions are grounded in unnamed sources and commentary from a known propagandist, Nabonita Chowdhury with no supporting documentation, official statements, or corroboration.
The Bangladesh Army has repeatedly addressed such rumors. On May 20, the Army issued an official statement debunking coup-related speculation. Again on May 23, it warned of a fake press release circulating under the Army’s logo, intended to mislead the public and sow division between the military and civilians. Cooperation Between the Bangladesh army and the interim government remains strong and fully operational.
The article is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign by segments of the Indian right-wing media seeking to delegitimize Bangladesh’s transitional leadership. Businessworld, along with other ABP Group publications like The Telegraph and Anandabazar Patrika, has consistently amplified unverified, politically charged narratives targeting Dr. Yunus.
Such reckless reporting not only undermines journalistic integrity but also threatens regional stability.