Press Club of India Condemns Bangladesh Official’s Remarks Targeting Indian Journalists

New Delhi, November 13 — The Press Club of India (PCI) has strongly condemned the remarks made by Shafiqul Alam, the official spokesperson for the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s government, who referred to Indian journalists as “bootlickers” in a recent Facebook post.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PCI described Alam’s comments as “reprehensible” and called on him to issue a public apology.

Alam, a former journalist himself, had on November 11, 2025, posted on Facebook referring to reporters from several Indian and international outlets who interviewed former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as “Western journalists and their Indian bootlicking counterparts.”

The Press Club noted that such language was unbecoming of a person holding an official position and showed disrespect toward journalists engaged in legitimate professional work.

“Such comments are especially reprehensible as Mr. Alam is himself a former journalist and should understand the importance of maintaining decorum in public discourse,” the statement read.

The PCI emphasized that journalists across borders perform a vital democratic function by questioning authority and presenting facts to the public, and that personal attacks on them undermine freedom of the press.

The organization urged the Bangladesh government to take note of the statement made by its spokesperson and reaffirm its commitment to upholding media freedom and mutual respect in diplomatic engagements.

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