sheikh hasina
Dhaka: Senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Friday that India-Bangladesh bilateral relations do not depend on the Awami League and India’s asylum to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “is bound to evoke adverse reaction in Bangladesh”. Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and former minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain described India as “very important” for Bangladesh and said “this is the right time to start a new chapter in bilateral relations”. Hossain welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to the interim government in Bangladesh and hoped that the Indian government will no longer continue to support the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to flee the country following massive protests.
India is important for Bangladesh
Khandker Musharraf Hussain said, “The impact of Sheikh Hasina taking refuge in India is natural. For example, if I do not like you and someone else is supporting you, then naturally I will not like that person. It is natural to have an adverse reaction. But the fact is that India-Bangladesh have always had good relations, whether the Awami League is in power or Sheikh Hasina.” He said, “When the BNP was in power, I was a minister in the Bangladesh government. We saw that there have been excellent relations between the two countries. India is very important for Bangladesh, because India has always supported the people of Bangladesh. Good bilateral relations will continue between the two countries.”
‘Democracy will be restored rights’
Hossain said the people of Bangladesh expect the Indian government to not support corrupt and dictatorial regimes like the Awami League forever. “We think the people of India also realise this,” he said. Asked if the BNP wanted Hasina to be handed over to Bangladesh, he said, “It is for the interim government to decide. As BNP, we have not taken any decision on this.” Hossain also hoped that the normal and democratic rights of the people would be restored as soon as possible under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
‘India has the right’
BNP Vice President Abdul Awal Mintu expressed a similar opinion and said, “It would have been better if she (Sheikh Hasina) had not fled to India, because we want good relations with India. Bangladesh and its people consider and see India as a friend.” He underlined that according to international law, India has the right to give asylum to whomever it wants.
‘India is a very big country’
Mintu said it is a “well-known fact” in Bangladesh that the Awami League has been able to stay in power for so long despite deep resentment against its government only because of the support of its big neighbour. On India’s proximity to the Awami League, Mintu said, “It may have a short and temporary impact on bilateral relations, but it is in Bangladesh’s interest that it does not last long.” He said, “It is in Bangladesh’s interest that we have very good relations with India. If it was any other neighbour like Bhutan or Nepal, I would not have said this, but India is a very big country and one of the largest economies in the world. For the sake of good bilateral relations, both countries should sit down and talk and resolve the differences.”
‘Negotiations should be held with India immediately’
When asked about the ‘India Out’ campaign in Bangladesh, both Hussain and Mintu said that these are ‘sporadic and temporary incidents’ and neither the people of Bangladesh nor the BNP support such campaigns. Mintu said that the new interim government of Bangladesh should immediately hold talks with India to resolve all issues. On the statement made by Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wajed Joy in an interview to ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that his mother will return to Bangladesh as soon as democracy is restored, Mintu said, “Whether she wants to return or not, it is up to her. We cannot comment on this. The law of Bangladesh will do its job. There have been many cases of corruption and human rights violations during the rule of the Awami League. ”
‘Elections should be held soon’
Although Mintu did not give any time frame, he said that his party led by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia wants elections to be held as soon as possible so that a democratic government can be established. At least 469 people have died in anti-government protests in Bangladesh in about three weeks since the protests began in July. (Language)
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