MoUs with India will be reviewed: Foreign adviser

Bangladesh will review the MoUs signed with India during the previous government’s tenure, foreign adviser Towhid Hossain has said, adding that it is a common practice.

“MoUs are not binding and are usually reviewed before final agreements are signed. So, we will review the MoUs to assess whether the country’s interest was served in those MoUs,” the adviser said this on Sunday while talking to reporters at his ministry.

Hossain was replying to a question about whether the government would implement the MoU on Rail Transit signed with India.

In response to a question on whether the government would take any measures to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country, the adviser said, “If we are asked by the court to take steps to bring her back from India, we shall try our best to make the arrangements, but it is up to India whether they will repatriate her or not.”

“Though there is an extradition treaty between the two countries, they are supposed to send her back... but they have their own legal process,” he noted.

Asked about the status of Hasina in India as the Bangladesh government has invalidated her passport, the adviser told the reporters to ask the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka about it.

Responding to another question about the absence of Indian contractors who were engaged in LoC projects, the adviser said they might be absent as they felt unsafe during the post-movement turmoil.

"We can’t deny that the law and order deteriorated for some days, though we have brought it back to normalcy now,” the adviser said hoping that the contractors would return soon.

The adviser also termed Indian External Affairs Minister S Jayshankar’s comment as ‘positive’.

Jayshankar on Saturday said that India would work with the present government.

Regarding the Chief Adviser’s participation in the upcoming UNGA, the adviser said it will be a brief visit and will be limited within New York.

Usually, the UNGA tour of the head of government from Bangladesh covers both New York and Washington.

Responding to another question, he said that since Myanmar itself is in trouble due to the ongoing civil war, discussions with them on Rohingya repatriation are currently not possible.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com