Ha-Meem Group sent a rejoinder to our report under the headline “Ha-Meem Group’s Azad destroying poll atmosphere” published on December 25, 2023.
The following is the full unedited text of the rejoinder, dated December 25, 2023, along with our response.
The article published by the Bangladesh Post on December 25, 2023, in its online and print copy editions under the heading “Ha-Meem Group’s Azad destroying poll atmosphere” contains untrue facts and biased statements regarding Abdul Kader Azad (A.K. Azad), independent candidate for Faridpur-3 (Sadar) constituency and the Managing Director of Ha-Meem Group, casting aspersions on A.K. Azad and his supporters without providing any credible evidence in support of the allegations
The article is full of inaccurate assertions unsupported by evidence. The Article appears primarily to rely on a single press conference held by the president of Faridpur district AL Shamim Haque, A.K. Azad’s political rival in the Faridpur-3 (Sadar) constituency, as well as unnamed sources, which do not provide an unbiased picture of the situation.
The content of the article carrying only the statement of Shamim Haque is proof that the ulterior motive for its publication is to defame his political rival A.K. Azad and cause disruptions in the electoral atmosphere. The article does not contain statements from any other named sources, which is further proof that the news was prepared based on the perceptions and statements of the so-called sources intentionally.
The article is a direct attack on A. K. Azad and his supporters, seeking to turn public opinion against him instead of following the due processes of law and upholding the constitutional rights of individuals and entities.
Despite the lack of a single statement from any unbiased sources, your newspaper carried such false news without verifying the allegations, which is very alarming and ill-motivated.
It cannot be disputed that allegations deliberately made in the Article provide an entirely false picture of A.K. Azad and his electoral campaign and adversely affect his reputation.
We strongly protest the publication of such news in your newspaper. We hope the Bangladesh Post will use authentic and credible information while publishing any news in future.
Our standAfter the press conference organised by Faridpur district Awami League president Shamim Haque against Abdul Kader Azad (AK Azad), independent candidate for Faridpur-3 (Sadar) constituency on December 21, our correspondent verified the allegations raised at the press conference.
When we talked to the people of the area they echoed the same allegation raised at the press conference. Our report was not, therefore, prepared and based on the press conference only.
