Want to work with India, Sheikh Hasina’s remarks ‘not conducive’: Bangladesh

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

In the first formal interaction between India and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina’s exit as Prime Minister, the Interim Government in the neighbouring country has said it wants to “work closely” with New Delhi and assured it would “not tolerate” any violence or intimidation of minorities in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) put out a statement after a meeting between Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohd Touhid Hossain.

Verma had paid a courtesy call to the Adviser at the MoFA in Dhaka today.

Addressing the issues of ensuring safety of minorities, including the Hindu community, raised by PM Narendra Modi and the Indian Government, Hossain assured Verma of the Interim Government’s commitment to ensure peaceful coexistence of different communities in Bangladesh including the minorities.

Hossain mentioned “the government is pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against them”.

Yesterday Muhammad Yunus, who heads the Interim Government, had visited a Hindu temple in Dhaka in a bid to soothe tempers as reports emerged of violence against the Hindu community.

“Bangladesh wants to work closely with India for promoting bilateral relations,” the Bangladeshi side quoted Hossain as saying.

Bangladesh also mentioned what it called a “highly exaggerated media campaign about happenings in Bangladesh”.

Mentioning former PM Sheikh Hasina’s recent statements, Hossain said: “Such statements emanating from India is not conducive to fostering better bilateral relations”.

Yesterday Hasina had called for action against those who carried out violence under the garb of agitation.