Bangladesh Army on Tuesday binned an Indian media outlet report claiming that it decided to declare as a "military zone" the northeastern Bandarban hill district and neighbouring Cox's Bazar, both bordering the troubled Rakhine state of Myanmar, reports UNB.
"The article titled 'Bangladesh to declare Cox's Bazar to Bandarban area as a 'military operations zone' by Northeast News is a clear example of deliberate disinformation propagated by segments of the Indian media seeking to destabilise Bangladesh's internal cohesion and undermine its armed forces," an ISPR statement said.
The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said the article was a clear example of "deliberate disinformation" propagated by segments of the Indian media seeking to destabilise Bangladesh's internal cohesion and undermine its armed forces.
The Northeast News on Saturday carried the article claiming a vast swathe of territory between Cox's Bazar and Bandarban would be declared a 'military operations zone' or MOZ.
It claimed that the decision would "not only facilitate the Bangladesh Army's plans to support the Arakan Army but will also 'effectively address' ongoing border security challenges".
The ISPR statement denounced the claim, saying the insinuation that the Bangladesh Army supports insurgent actors "is not only baseless but malicious".
"Such speculative reporting, devoid of evidence, reflects a broader agenda to sow discord and mislead the public," the statement read.
It added, "This narrative is not journalism; it is part of a sustained smear campaign."
Bangladesh Army, however, said "There will be no compromise on national interest — now or ever" adding that the military always upheld the highest standards of professionalism and remained resolutely committed to protecting the nation's sovereignty, integrity, and constitutional order.
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