Staff Reporter:
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the report regarding “RAW” network within the Air Force contains misleading information.
Clarifying the matter in a protest letter on Monday, ISPR said that on 4 August, a report titled “RAW network inside the Air Force leaked” was published in the print version, YouTube channel and online portal of “Dainik Amar Desh” newspaper.
According to the ISPR, the report claimed that six high-ranking officers of the Bangladesh Air Force – Air Vice Marshal MA Awal Hossain, Air Vice Marshal Zahidul Sayeed, Air Commodore Mohammad Aminul Haque, Group Captain Abdullah Al Faruk, Group Captain Mohammad Shamim and Wing Commander Syed Mohammad were identified and sent on compulsory retirement on charges of being associated with foreign intelligence agencies.
ISPR claimed that the allegations of involvement with foreign intelligence agencies made against the officers mentioned in the report are baseless and not consistent with the information maintained by the Air Force.
In fact, the concerned officers have retired naturally in a systematic process after completing the prescribed service age as per the prevailing rules and regulations of the Bangladesh Air Force, the letter said.
Despite the fact that the said information was confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), this inconsistent information is being disseminated by the said media, which is undesirable, the letter added.
The ISPR letter further said that the report further claims two officers – Flight Lieutenant Rifat Ashrafi and Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Suri – were also sent on compulsory retirement on charges of being associated with the same foreign intelligence agency.
In reality, these two officers were also retired through due process under the prevailing laws and regulations of the Air Force in a different context, which has nothing to do with the said charges, ISPR clarified in their letter.
In the letter, ISPR also said such propaganda as revealed in the Amar Desh report is not only damaging the social status of the officials concerned and their families, but is also creating confusion in the public mind, which is questioning national stability and the professionalism and image of the armed forces.
This is very unfortunate and undesirable, the letter said.
Bangladesh Air Force shows utmost respect for objective reporting and respects independent media. In this context, to prevent confusion in the public mind, all media are humbly requested to always contact the ISPR for confirmation and dissemination of any information related to the Air Force, the letter concluded.
