Photo: Bangla Fact

DHAKA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS)- BanglaFact, the fact-checking, media research and 
analysis team of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), has identified 
disinformation in an Indian media report concerning the speech delivered by 
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at a historic mass reception marking his 
return to the country.

BanglaFact said Tarique Rahman made no remarks about India throughout his 
entire speech. However, Indian media outlet ABP Ananda irrelevantly included 
the phrase "plan regarding India" in its headline without any contextual 
basis.

Tarique Rahman returned to the country on December 25 after a long 17 years. 
Upon his return, he addressed a reception ceremony held in the capital's 
Purbachal 300-feet area, where he spoke about having a plan to build the 
future of Bangladesh.

Although he did not disclose the plan in detail, he sought cooperation from 
people of all walks of life to implement it. Before outlining his vision, 
Tarique recalled the historic "I Have a Dream" speech delivered 62 years ago 
by American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., echoing the phrase by 
saying, "I have a plan".

In his speech, Tarique Rahman said: "Dear brothers and sisters, we want peace 
in the country. Have you heard the name Martin Luther King? He has a famous 
line, 'I have a dream'. Today, standing on the soil of Bangladesh, before all 
of you, I want to say-as a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)- 
I have a plan, for the people of my country, for my country. This plan is for 
the interests of the people of the country."

While reporting on the speech, ABP Ananda published a story with the 
headline: "'I have a plan...', Explosive statement by Khaleda's son upon 
returning to Bangladesh-plan regarding India?"

BanglaFact noted that the reference to India in the headline was completely 
irrelevant, as Tarique Rahman did not mention India at any point in his 
speech. The media outlet also failed to provide any explanation or 
justification for introducing the issue in its report.