‘Misleading’: MEA slams CNN report blaming India for Bangladesh floods

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday dismissed allegations made in a CNN report pointing fingers at India as ‘responsible’ for the flood situation in Bangladesh. 

While addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal criticised the CNN report and said the narrative is "misleading" and "factually not correct". 

"We have seen the CNN report on the flood situation in Bangladesh...Its narrative is misleading....and ignored the facts mentioned in the press releases issued by the Government of India clarifying the situation," said Jaiswal. 

The CNN report stated that dozens of people in Feni, which is only a few miles from the India border, accused New Delhi of releasing water from the Dumbur dam in neighbouring Tripura state with no warning. 

Slamming the report, Jaiswal said CNN had ignored that we have a regular and timely exchange of data and critical information between the two countries through existing joint mechanisms for water resources management. 

India asserted that excessive rain is a contributing factor and refused the claim of deliberately releasing the water from the dam. 

As allegations of sounding no alert mounted, the government explained that a power outage and communications breakdown prevented them from issuing the usual warning to downstream neighbours. 

Over 18 million people in Bangladesh have been affected due to flash floods that hit the nation. 

Meanwhile, on asked about Pakistan’s invitation to attend the SCO meeting in Islamabad, Jaiswal said “We have received the invitation and we don’t have an update on that yet.” 

MEA also said that India and the United States discussed the Bangladesh crisis. US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'substantially discussed' the situation in Bangladesh when both leaders spoke over a phone call earlier this week, said the MEA spokesperson.