Bangladesh urges India not to interfere in domestic affairs

Bangladesh has asked India not to interfere in its domestic affairs during the foreign office consultation meeting (FOC) held in Dhaka city on Monday.

Both the countries agreed to advance the bilateral ties, which virtually have been getting strained following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 this year.

There is no doubt that a trust deficit exists between the two countries, and this FOC is a crucial step in rebuilding the trust, Bangladesh foreign secretary Jashim Uddin told a press briefing. 

Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who led his country’s delegation in the FOC, made it clear that India wants to work with the interim government.

After the FOC, the top Indian diplomat met Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and foreign adviser Touhid Hossain separately.

 “We told them that Bangladesh does not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries and similarly expects that others will also not interfere in its domestic affairs,” foreign secretary Jashim Uddin told a press briefing after the FOC.

Responding to a question, he said that Bangladesh raised the issue of the stay of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India.

The Indian side categorically said that the stay of Sheikh Hasina in India will not have any bearing on the bilateral ties between the two countries.

However, the Bangladesh side made it clear that it does not like the way Hasina is making political statements and false propaganda against the government, said the foreign secretary, adding that the Indian government was requested to take due steps to refrain her from doing so.

Asked about the reply of his Indian counterparty, Mr Joshjim said that the Indian FS took note of it.

Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said that Bangladesh will ask India to send back Hasina after following due legal process.

The Indian side conveyed its concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, and the FOC discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties.

The India foreign secretary said that his country expects, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction.

Terming the discussion ‘free, frank, and candid,’ the Bangladesh foreign secretary said that they had expressed their concern over the propaganda by the Indian government against Bangladesh and also requested the Indian government that this belies the real scenario of the minorities, as the government is committed to ensuring all kinds of rights and freedom for the minority communities.

Bangladesh also raised the issue of the killing of Bangladeshis on the border by the Indian Border Security Forces, demanding an immediate halt to this practice.

“We also stressed the need for immediate signing of the Teesta River water sharing deal and renewal of the Ganges Treaty,” the foreign secretary said.

Bangladesh sought the cooperation of India in facilitating the electricity import from Nepal and Bhutan and in resolving the Rohingya repatriation.

“We also requested they ensure an undisrupted supply of essential commodities and withdraw non-tariff barriers on the import of Bangladeshi products,” the FS added.

Addressing the press after the FOC, the Indian foreign secretary said, “Today’s discussions have given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations, and I appreciate the opportunity today to have a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors.”.

“I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. We have always seen in the past and we continue to see in the future this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship, one that has the benefit of all the people as its central motivational force”.

This is reflected on a daily basis in the development projects that have been executed on the ground in Bangladesh and that continue to be developed, Mr Misra said, adding that it is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement the two countries have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water and energy, development cooperation, consular cooperation, and cultural cooperation.

“There is no reason why this mutually beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver in the interest of both our peoples. And, to that end, therefore, I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh,” he added.

He recalled that since the political changes in Bangladesh in August this year, there has, of course, been contact between leaders of the two countries. “Our Prime Minister was the first world leader to greet the Chief Adviser on his assumption of office. The two of them had a very cordial telephone conversation thereafter, and the Chief Adviser also accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to speak at the Third Voice of Global South Summit that was held in August this year,” he added.

“Since then, the external affairs minister and the foreign affairs adviser have also been in touch. They met each other on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September this year. And my visit follows those interactions and is the first Foreign Secretary-level structured engagement between the two sides following those developments,” he said.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com