Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, has provided information on social media to counter claims that the government is "NGO-controlled."

In a Facebook post on Friday (Nov 8), Alam revealed that only four members of the 21-member advisory council of the interim government have an NGO background.

Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5, the interim government, led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in on August 8.

Since then, certain individuals have been spreading the claim on social media, particularly Facebook, that the interim government is dominated by NGO-affiliated figures.

In his post, Shafiqul Alam said, “There has been a continuous campaign on social media labeling the interim government as NGO-controlled. Some prominent individuals are pushing the narrative that the advisory council, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, is predominantly composed of people with backgrounds in NGOs.”

However, Alam pointed out that, according to official records, only four members of the 21-member advisory council have NGO experience. Among them, two are top lawyers, he added.

He further said that the advisory council also includes five former bureaucrats, two diplomats, and two senior military officers, making up at least nine retired government officials.

Alam concluded his post by listing the other members, including a former attorney general, a freedom fighter, two student leaders, four academics and writers, and two pioneers in microfinance and social business.

BDST: 1911 HRS, NOV 08, 2024
MSK