The Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh, Mohammed Touhid Hossain, stated on Saturday that the country’s relationship with India has shifted since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power on August 5 of this year.
“After August 5, relations with India have been changed and this is the reality,” said Md.Touhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Advisor (Minister) to the Bangladesh interim government in a seminar at North South University, a private university in Dhaka. Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh have to build a relationship with India “in view of this reality.”
“It is in view of this reality that we have to build and continue our relationship with India. I believe India will understand how to take forward relations with Bangladesh under the changed circumstances,” Hossain said.
A student-led movement in Bangladesh led to the ousting of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following weeks of protests and clashes that resulted in over 600 deaths. On August 5, Hasina, 76, fled to India, and an interim government was established, which were led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
“The previous government (of Bangladesh) tried its best to remove India’s concerns. We also had some concerns. Problems are happening because our problems are not being addressed,” Touhid said, without elaborating.
He further remained optimistic to establish good relationship with India and said that Bangladesh “will not cause harm to anyone.”
“We would like to be optimistic that we can establish a good relationship so that the interests of both parties are protected. We will not be a cause harm to anyone. We want no one to be cause us harm”, Bangladesh Adviser said.
The Foreign Affairs Adviser accountable Indian media for exaggerating and urged the media in Bangladesh to maintain objectivity when reporting on the country’s relations with India.
On Friday, India expressed concern over the growing “extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation” in Bangladesh.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with Bangladesh government.
India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh’s interim government to take steps for protection of minorities, While addressing a weekly media briefing,
“India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests.”, Jaiswal said, on situation of minorities in Bangladesh.
The situation in Bangladesh has remained unsettled since spiritual preacher Chinmoy Krishna Das was charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25.
After Das arrest, a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of the spiritual guru in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27.