The Indian Express report titled “Minorities targeted, bid to rewrite history, take revenge for 1971 events”, published on Friday, has been dismissed as misleading and part of a well-organized propaganda campaign orchestrated by Indian media, according to the Chief Adviser (CA) Press Wing. "The report falsely framed the arrest of three Awami League MPs as attacks on minorities, using the suspects’ religious identities to misrepresent the situation," the CA Press Wing stated in a verified Facebook post. Citing Awami League sources, The Indian Express claimed that between August 5 and August 20, 2024, there were approximately 2,000 incidents of arson, looting, and violence targeting minorities (Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians), with scattered attacks reportedly continuing daily. However, a January 11 police report revealed that most of these incidents were politically motivated. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a total of 1,769 communal attacks and vandalism incidents were recorded during the same period. The Bangladesh Police, after reviewing the Council's list, conducted thorough investigations into each reported incident. The findings showed that 1,234 incidents were politically motivated, 20 incidents were communal and 161 allegations were found to be baseless. The CA Press Wing emphasised that appropriate legal actions were taken in confirmed cases of communal attacks. The statement further criticised the report for alleging an attempt to "rewrite history" and seek "revenge for 1971 events." It described the claims as an effort to undermine the interim government’s initiatives to correct historical inaccuracies perpetuated by previous regimes.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on the nation to remain steadfast in their resolve to restore democracy, freedom of speech, and voting rights while confronting conspiracies against these fundamental principles. “The anti-democratic and isolated illegal Awami League government was forced to flee the country on August 5 last year, driven out by the people-student movement. Now, the people must remain determined to restore democracy, freedom of speech, and voting rights by countering every conspiracy,” he said in a Facebook post Friday evening. Tarique Rahman further remarked, “On January 25, 1975, the then Awami League government, in its bid to cement power, strangled multi-party democracy and replaced it with the one-party system called ‘BAKSAL’ (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League).” He criticized the government for disregarding opposition voices in Parliament, forcefully enacting the "inhumane" Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and stifling press freedom by shutting down all media outlets except for four government-loyal newspapers. “They destroyed the freedom and democracy achieved through the long struggles of the people and plunged the nation into an era of severe chaos and anarchy,” Tarique asserted. Highlighting the repercussions of the one-party system, Tarique said, “In their illusory quest to prolong their barbaric rule, the Awami League not only jeopardized democracy but also undermined national unity, solidarity, and sovereignty.” He added, “Their conduct towards the opposition was devoid of civilized norms and principles. During their rule, the prison became the only destination for opposition members.”

US immigration agents conducted a raid at a Newark, New Jersey, worksite on Thursday, detaining undocumented migrants as well as American citizens. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka criticized the operation, claiming it involved the detention of a military veteran and violations of individual rights. The raid took place in New Jersey's largest city, which has been previously commended by Mayor Baraka for its "sanctuary" policies aimed at protecting migrants. The operation aligns with President Donald Trump's renewed pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Since taking office on Monday, Trump has signed several executive orders targeting illegal immigration. These include measures to enforce his crackdown and impose penalties on officials who resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In a raid of a business establishment in Newark, outside New York City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents failed to produce a warrant as they detained "undocumented residents as well as citizens," Baraka said in a statement. "One of the detainees is a US military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned," Baraka said. In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said that agents "may encounter US citizens while conducting field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity as was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a worksite today in Newark." he spokesperson said that ICE was investigating the incident. Baraka said the raid had violated the citizens' rights under the US Constitution. "Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorised," he said. Neither Baraka nor ICE identified the business raided by name. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X that the Trump administration arrested 538 people on Thursday, describing all of them as "illegal immigrant criminals". She said they included members of a Venezuelan prison gang and people convicted of sex crimes. Leavitt did not provide more details. A range of studies by academics and think tanks have shown that immigrants do not commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans. Other studies find that immigrants in the US illegally also do not commit crimes at a higher rate. SANCTUARY CITIES: Newark Mayor Baraka Speaks Out Following Immigration Raid Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is among the first US officials to address a specific immigration raid since the launch of President Trump’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants. In 2017, Baraka signed an executive order solidifying Newark's status as a sanctuary city, emphasizing its commitment to limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Throughout Trump's first term, Baraka was a prominent critic of the administration's immigration policies. As of 2022, approximately 44% of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants or those with temporary status in the US resided in states with sanctuary laws. These laws restrict collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. This percentage excludes individuals living in sanctuary cities and counties located in states without overarching sanctuary laws, such as New Mexico. According to US media reports, federal law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested nearly 500 undocumented migrants with outstanding criminal charges in sanctuary cities. The arrests, which included individuals from New York and New Jersey, reportedly occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing statements from ICE officials.