Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’ Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has dismissed Transparency International Bangladesh’s (TIB) claim about the size of the Bangladesh delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling it “misinformation based on unchecked social media posts.”

In a post from his verified Facebook page on Friday, the press secretary said the current delegation is “significantly smaller, more focused, hardworking and result-oriented” compared to those during the Sheikh Hasina administration.

Shafiqul acknowledged TIB’s long-standing reputation as a civil society watchdog promoting transparency but expressed disappointment that it relied on “rumors and unauthenticated online content instead of verified facts.”

According to him, the Bangladesh delegation this year consists of 62 members — not over 100 as claimed by TIB. The figure excludes six senior politicians invited personally by the chief adviser. Last year’s delegation under the previous government had 57 members, he noted.

Nearly one-third of the current delegation are security personnel tasked with protecting the chief adviser and other senior officials amid “open threats from Awami League supporters,” Shafiqul said. “Many of these officers have been working shifts as long as 16 hours daily,” he added.

Over the past five days, the delegation has attended at least a dozen high-level meetings, including more than six bilateral talks with heads of state and government, he said.

The press secretary stressed that the purpose of the delegation is to represent the interests of the people of Bangladesh at the world’s most important diplomatic forum, where key global decisions are taken.

He said this year’s UNGA carries particular significance for Bangladesh at a time when “vested quarters are trying to destabilize the country and spread disinformation about the July uprising.”

He accused the Awami League and its allies of spending millions of taka on lobbying abroad and spreading false narratives about the interim government and the July events, allegedly with tacit support from some international quarters.

Shafiqul further said the delegation includes representatives who will attend the upcoming Rohingya conference on September 30.

Several advisers outside the formal delegation are also holding talks with their global counterparts.

Additionally, political leaders from popular parties were invited to join the trip and assist officials, which he described as "an inclusive move that demonstrates Bangladesh’s firm commitment to a peaceful and democratic transition," Shafiq concluded.