Indian media outlets have recently published reports claiming that Bangladesh's interim government chief advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has issued an order prohibiting the broadcast of Liberation War-related content on state-run radio and television. These reports allege that the directive bans the publication of content on genocide during the Liberation War, prohibits attributing responsibility to Pakistan for these atrocities, and restricts criticism of Pakistani leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Additionally, it is claimed that all records and video footage from 1952 to 1971 have been ordered to be destroyed.

Fact-Check

An investigation by the Rumor Scanner team has found that the claim regarding a government ban on broadcasting Liberation War-related content on state-run media is false. Instead, an official order instructing the removal of images, information, and content that violate government policies from all Bangladesh Betar (state radio) units' websites and Facebook pages has been exaggerated and misrepresented to support the false claim. 

An official notice dated February 2 was found on the Bangladesh Betar website during the investigation. Signed by Syed Zahidul Islam, Additional Director (Administration and Finance) on behalf of the Director General, the order states: "All units of Bangladesh Betar must review their websites and Facebook pages, remove any images, information, and content that are inconsistent with government policies, and notify the headquarters' administration branch by 3 PM on February 2, 2025." A review of this order confirms that there is no mention of the Liberation War or Pakistan-related matters. 

Furthermore, a statement from the press wing of the chief advisor was posted on a Facebook page addressing the issue. The post dismisses the claims made by Indian media as misleading and categorically denies that Dr. Yunus has imposed censorship on radio and television. It also states that Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information has assured the chief advisor that no censorship has been imposed on the media, nor is there any intention to do so. The ministry further clarified that some controversial content from Hasina’s tenure has been removed from archives and that it will continue to fulfill its legal responsibility to remove content that may incite violence. 

Therefore, the claim propagated by Indian media that the interim government has banned the broadcasting of Liberation War-related content on state-run media is entirely false.

Original News Source: https://rumorscanner.com/fact-check/false-reporting-regarding-banning-liberation-war-related-content-on-gov-radio-and-tv/138666