Reports about assassination attempt on PM Sheikh Hasina totally baseless, says Bangladesh PMO

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of Bangladesh has dismissed the Indian media report about an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On Saturday, an Indian news channel - NEWS18 aired a report about a failed attempt on the life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On Sunday afternoon, in a rare statement released to the media, the PMO said that the report published in several regional and international news outlets are totally baseless, misleading and intentional.

The release is signed by Ashraful Alam Khokan, deputy press secretary to the prime minister. The statement said that some media outlets on September 23 published and broadcast a report about a failed attempt on the life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using a source of a foreign TV channel and an international online news agency.

It said a number of TV channels also aired the news and held talk shows on the so-called failed attack on the premier by involving some members of a special force.

"This is to inform all that the news of the attack on the honourable prime minister on August 24, 2017 is completely baseless, misleading and motivated. It is not expected at all from any responsible person or conscious media to publish or broadcast such a confusing report which goes against the overall interest of the country's security," the press release added.

The PMO also earnestly requested all concerned to run judicious media activities by maintaining caution before publishing such "baseless and confusing" news.

According to the reports that cited anonymous sources in Indian and Bangladesh intelligence agencies, the foiled attack was plotted by rogue members of the Special Security Force or SSF in coordination with banned terrorist outfit Jama'tul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB.

Before the PMO issued the statement, cabinet member and veteran Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu said the report was untrue. He said to media that the news about an attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's life was not true. The government has no knowledge of such attacks.

However, on Sunday noon, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said to journalist at Banderban, near the Myanman-Bangladesh Border, that a vested group, comprising local and foreign elements, is plotting to kill the prime minister as they envy the her popularity over the Rohingya issue.