Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 22 June 2020 protesting a report of Indian daily ‘Anandabazar Patrika’ which termed Bangladesh as a ‘beggar country’ while referring to the existing commerce and trade between Bangladesh and China.

Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. Bangladesh has all the rights to initiate and continue trade relationship with any countries of the world. Bangladesh can also export its produced and manufactured products anywhere enjoying the tariff-free facilities. Recently, the government of China has declared tariff-free facilities for the Bangladeshi exported items. Centering the issue, Indian daily ‘Anandabazar Patrika’ has termed Bangladesh as a `beggar state’. We are shocked with such report. We are of the view that this report violates the ethics of journalism clearly.

So far, Bangladeshi government did not issue any official statement or reaction in this regard.

Amidst the ongoing financial crisis, which has been created due to coronavirus pandemic, it is very important for Bangladesh to attain the facilities of exporting products without tariff barrier. But the way, this Indian daily defined Bangladesh as a ‘beggar nation’ is really unfortunate and the Bangladeshi government must raise its voice about this issue. We are expecting a clear and explicit reaction of the government in a bid to defend and protect the dignity of the people of Bangladesh.