Self-styled ‘Miss Bangladesh’ Meghna Alam, who also claims to be a “certified political trainer”, appears to be employing contradictory and coercive tactics that amount to an attempt to bully and intimidate this newspaper.

On July 30, shortly after Blitz published a report titled “Threats to Press Freedom: ‘Miss Bangladesh’ Meghna Alam’s Response to Investigative Reporting Raises Concerns”, Ms. Alam reached out to the editor of this newspaper via Facebook Messenger. As she is not connected as a Facebook friend, the message remained unattended at first.

The message read:

“Thank you for removing the article. I appreciate the gesture—perhaps there was a misunderstanding on both sides. I kindly request that any remaining harmful or inaccurate statements about me on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, or any other platform be removed as well.”
“Let us now shift toward collaboration. I believe we share a common interest: standing up against injustice and ensuring truth prevails.”
“It’s time for Bangladesh to be seen as a nation of fairness, dignity, and courage on the global stage. Let’s work together to make that vision a reality. Warm regards, Meghna Alam”.

Screenshot of Meghna Alam’s messege sent via Messenger

However, barely two hours later, the same individual sent a sharply different and threatening email from her personal address, which conspicuously lacked any formal contact details. The subject line of the email was titled “Urgent Legal Notice: International Concern Regarding False Allegation”. 

Screenshot of Meghna Alam’s July 30, 2025 email to Blitz

In this lengthy email, Ms. Alam wrote:

“We are writing to express serious concern regarding the article ‘Targeting the Kingdom: Bangladesh’s dangerous dance with anti-Saudi conspirator,’ published on your platform that unfairly defames Ms. Meghna Alam. The report contains multiple factual inaccuracies and harmful implications that misrepresent both the nature of ongoing legal proceedings and the reputations of various individuals and states”.

She then attempted to discredit specific details of the report, making a series of assertions:

That the introduction between herself and Saudi national Essa Yousef Al Duhailan was made not by Mr. Dewan Samir, but by Mr. Essa’s associate, Syed Munir.

That her relationship with Mr. Essa was deeply personal and emotional, “grounded in mutual affection”, and not linked to any extremist or conspiratorial activity.

That the report’s speculation about Saudi Arabia potentially reducing or terminating the employment of 4.3 million Bangladeshi workers was defamatory to the Kingdom and harmful to Bangladesh’s diplomatic and economic interests.

That references to Qatar and Iran were baseless, inflammatory, and dangerous to Bangladesh’s foreign relations.

She further demanded that any future reporting include standard legal disclaimers such as:

• The matter is currently under investigation.
• No charges have been proven in court.
• The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
• This is an allegation, not a confirmed fact.

The email ends with claims that the report damages Bangladesh’s international image and that the Blitz publication may be exposed to liability for:

• Digital harassment
• Intentional misinformation
• Public fear-mongering
• Reputational damage to a citizen without due cause.

A particularly disturbing element of this so-called “legal notice” is that it was copied to 24 individuals, organizations, and foreign diplomatic missions – a move that appears to serve no legal necessity but rather one of public shaming and intimidation. There is no explanation as to why such an extensive list of third parties was involved, leading to legitimate suspicion that this was a calculated attempt to bully and silence a free media outlet.

Meghna Alam with officials of Saudi Embassy in Bangladesh. Source: Facebook

It is also important to note that no individual, regardless of their social status or affiliations, holds the authority to issue a “legal notice” in such a self-appointed manner, especially without legal representation or clear legal grounds. Furthermore, the misleading subject line of her email – “Urgent Legal Notice: International Concern Regarding False Allegation” – appears intended to create panic, deflect accountability, and apply pressure on this newspaper through theatrics rather than legitimate legal process.

Such conduct borders on cyberbullying and digital harassment, and may be considered a punishable offense under Bangladesh’s existing ICT and cybercrime laws. This pattern – issuing a warm-toned message proposing collaboration, followed within two hours by a hostile email with defamatory insinuations and veiled threats – raises legitimate questions about Meghna Alam’s intentions and credibility. Her double-faced communication strategy undermines any notion of good faith or professionalism she attempts to portray.

At a time when Bangladesh is striving to uphold the rule of law, democratic principles, and press freedom, the use of intimidation tactics by self-proclaimed public figures like Meghna Alam poses a dangerous precedent. The attempt to stifle investigative journalism through manipulative messaging, mischaracterized legal threats, and public shaming campaigns reflects a deeply worrying mindset of entitlement and impunity. It is imperative that media outlets, civil society, and relevant authorities remain vigilant and take decisive steps to resist such bullying behavior. The integrity of the press must not be held hostage by individuals seeking to shield themselves from scrutiny through coercion and theatrics masquerading as legal action.

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