Govt calls Priya Saha’s allegation ‘blatant lies’

The government today termed as "blatant lies" the complaints made by Bangladeshi national Priya Saha to US President Donald Trump claiming that minority communities in the country are exposed to persecution.

“Government of Bangladesh strongly protests against all the blatant lies told by Ms Priya Saha to President Trump and condemns her remarks in the strongest possible terms,” a foreign ministry press release said in Dhaka today.

Condemning her remarks in strongest language, the foreign ministry release said there was an ulterior motive behind Priya Saha’s absolutely false and concocted stories that’s target was to malign Bangladesh.

Referring to a video clip the release said that Bangladesh government’s attention has been drawn to a video on July 18 where Priya was seen telling President Trump, among other things, that 37 million Hindu, Buddhist and Christian people have disappeared from Bangladesh.

She was also seen telling the US President that her land has been grabbed by Muslim fundamentalists and sought his help so that Hindu, Buddhist and Christian people can live in Bangladesh, it said.

Priya Saha told this to US president while participating in the Second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom held at the US Department of State in Washington, DC from July 16 to 18, it added.

It clarified that Bangladesh is a beacon of religious freedom and communal harmony, where people of all faiths have been living in peace for ages.

The humane attitude and generosity of Bangladesh government have been commended by whole world when Bangladesh decided to temporarily shelter more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, it mentioned.

The release also said that Bangladesh government would expect that organisers of such a big international event would invite responsible individuals who would objectively contribute to promote the true spirit and value of religious freedom.