Did Rezaul Karim Rony get an office beside BTV director general?

Claims circulated in social media that Rezaul Karim Rony has been appointed to Bangladesh Television (BTV) remain unsubstantiated so far, with officials saying they have no knowledge of such an appointment. 

However, multiple sources inside the state broadcaster have confirmed to Daily Waadaa that Rony has been given an office beside the director general's room.

The room previously belonged to BTV's director of administration, according to the sources. They said Rony is regularly seen inside the BTV building and uses the room allocated to him.

However, the sources said they were unaware of any formal appointment, recruitment order or official designation authorising his presence.

BTV Director General Kazi Jesin told Daily Waadaa that Rezaul Karim Rony had been given a room at the state broadcaster, where he works alongside “a few other” researchers to develop programmes.

She said no room at BTV headquarters bears a nameplate identifying it as Rezaul Karim Rony’s office.

The controversy began after a Facebook account named Ahnaf Tamid posted a photograph of a nameplate, claiming Rony had been given an office adjacent to BTV Director General Kazi Jesin's office.

The post alleged that the arrangement had been concealed from the government.

It quickly circulated across Facebook, prompting questions about Rony's alleged appointment and demands for an official explanation.

What does BTV say?

Waadaa earlier contacted Asifa Siddika, assistant director (administration) and coordination officer at the BTV director general's office, to verify the claim.

Siddika said she had no knowledge of Rony joining the office.

Initially surprised by the allegation, she reiterated that she was unaware of any such appointment after being informed that the inquiry was part of a fact-check.

BTV Assistant Director (Administration) Mohammad Mozammel gave a similar response.

He said he had no information about Rony being recruited or appointed to the broadcaster.

Asked whether BTV would take legal action if false information about the director general's office was being circulated, Mozammel said that decision rested with the DG's office.

What does Rony say?

Contacted by Waadaa on Sunday evening, Rony categorically denied joining BTV.

He accused Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir of spreading the allegation.

Daily Waadaa could not independently establish who was behind the viral claims.

Rony also questioned why he would accept a position at the BTV director general's office when, according to him, he had previously declined an offer to become a minister in a BNP government.

That claim could not be independently verified.

--