London, 19 April 2025 — A senior UK-based solicitor has lodged a formal complaint with Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, accusing the BBC of broadcasting a “biased and unsubstantiated” report on Bangladesh that he claims undermines journalistic standards and misleads the public.
The complaint, submitted by Sayed Abedin, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, concerns a BBC report published on 15 April 2025 titled “Bangladesh Disappeared: Uncovering a Secret Jail Next to an International Airport.” The report alleges the existence of a clandestine detention facility used during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mr. Abedin asserts that the report “fails to meet the standards of impartial, accurate, and evidence-based journalism,” and appears to reflect the “unverified and politically motivated narratives” of Bangladesh’s current interim regime—an administration he describes as “unlawful and unelected,” led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus since 8 August 2024.
According to the complaint, the BBC’s coverage presents serious allegations of torture and enforced disappearances without independent verification or sufficient context. “It attributes grave crimes directly to Sheikh Hasina without presenting credible or corroborated evidence,” Abedin writes, adding that the report may have defamed the former Prime Minister.
The complaint further criticizes the BBC for failing to address the democratic legitimacy of the interim government, which came to power following what Mr. Abedin describes as violent uprisings by radical student groups that ousted the elected government.
He also raises the possibility that the evidence featured in the report may have been “staged for propaganda purposes,” calling on Ofcom to examine whether the BBC considered this in its editorial process.
In his submission, Mr. Abedin urges Ofcom to conduct a full investigation into the editorial standards behind the report, including the steps taken to verify its claims and whether the BBC followed its own guidelines on impartiality and accuracy.
“The BBC has a responsibility to inform the public without promoting one-sided or politically biased perspectives,” the complaint states, warning that such reporting could “mislead international audiences and influence foreign policy perspectives.”
Ofcom has not yet issued a response.