2024-09-01 09:33:27
Dhaka: General Secretary of Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said it is important to start a new chapter in India-Bangladesh relations which should begin with the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as her continued presence in India could further damage bilateral ties. Alamgir, the second-in-command in the BNP, asserted that his party is keen on strong ties with India and said it is ready to “set aside past differences and cooperate”. Alamgir also assured that the BNP will not allow any activity on Bangladeshi soil that poses a threat to India’s security.
In an interview at his residence in Dhaka, Alamgir said if the BNP comes to power, it will review and re-evaluate the “controversial” Adani power deal signed during the Awami League government as it is putting “huge pressure” on the people of Bangladesh. He claimed it was India’s diplomatic failure to understand the mindset of the people of Bangladesh. Alamgir said even after the fall of the Hasina government amid public outrage, “the Indian government has not yet held talks with the BNP, while China, the US, the UK and Pakistan have already held talks.” He said the safety of minorities in Bangladesh was an “internal matter”.
‘It is not true that Hindus are being attacked’
The BNP leader said reports of Hindus being targeted were “not true” as most of the incidents were politically motivated rather than communal. “Sheikh Hasina will have to face the law of Bangladesh for all the crimes and corruption committed by herself and her government. To make this possible and respect the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh, India should ensure her return to Bangladesh,” he said. Anti-government protests in Bangladesh reached a peak on August 5, forcing Hasina to resign as prime minister and leave the country for India. Hasina’s presence in India for more than three weeks has fuelled speculation in Bangladesh. “We want to start a new chapter in India-Bangladesh relations and ensuring Hasina’s return to Bangladesh will be a new chapter in bilateral relations,” the BNP leader said.
He said, “Both Sheikh Hasina and Awami League are condemned here and supporting them will further deteriorate the perception of India in Bangladesh.” Alamgir said that if India does not ensure Hasina’s return to Bangladesh, bilateral relations between the two countries will deteriorate. He said, “There is already anger against India here, because it is seen as a supporter of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government. If you ask anyone in Bangladesh, he will say that India did not do the right thing by giving shelter to Sheikh Hasina.” Alamgir said, “Now if India does not extradite Hasina to Bangladesh, relations between the two countries will deteriorate further.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked during a press conference in New Delhi on Friday whether the interim government of Bangladesh has made a formal request for Hasina’s extradition, but he did not give any clear answer on this.
‘There is clear anger against India’
Jaiswal had said, “The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh came to India as per the information given at the last moment for security reasons. We have nothing more to say on this matter.” When asked about the “India Out” campaign in Bangladesh, Alamgir said that there is “clear” anger against India because it never bothered to establish relations with the people of the country, but was satisfied by establishing relations only with the Awami League. He said, “India’s diplomacy towards Bangladesh was not practical. It did not establish relations with the people of Bangladesh and other stakeholders, but only with one party. India will have to understand the pulse of the people of Bangladesh.” Alamgir (76) said that if the BNP comes to power, it will try to strengthen relations with India and resolve misunderstandings and past differences. He said, “We will have to talk, because this will be practical diplomacy to resolve the issues.
Even after such a big political upheaval in Bangladesh, India has not initiated any dialogue with us. The BNP general secretary said the high commissioners and ambassadors of Pakistan, China, the US and the UK have “contacted and talked to us, but there has been no dialogue from the Indian side”. He said controversial bilateral agreements made during the Awami League government contrary to the interests of Bangladesh will be re-evaluated and reviewed if necessary. Alamgir said, “We have no problem with such bilateral agreements and treaties made with India during the Awami League government which are in the interest of Bangladesh. But there have been some controversial bilateral treaties and agreements which are not in the interest of Bangladesh and need to be reviewed.” Listing such projects, he said the Adani power deal tops the list “as there are many questions regarding it” and it is creating “a lot of pressure on the people of Bangladesh”.
‘The issue of safety of minorities is an internal matter’
On the issue of attacks on Hindu minorities after the fall of the Awami League government, he termed the related reports as “factually incorrect and misleading”. Alamgir said, “Reports of attacks on Hindu minorities are factually incorrect. There may be some incidents, but they will be politically motivated rather than communal.” He said, “Attacks may be due to political reasons, as the victims were Awami League workers, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. We have taken precautions and asked our leaders to protect Hindu families.” Alamgir said that the “issue of protection of minorities” is an internal matter of the country. He said, “The question of minorities is an internal matter of Bangladesh. When India makes it an issue, Bangladesh needs to address it at the international forum. We have never complained about what has happened to Indian minorities, so no one should comment on the issue of minorities here.”
Asked about concerns over anti-India elements gaining a foothold on Bangladeshi soil in the absence of the Awami League government, Alamgir, a former minister in the BNP cabinet, said, “The BNP government will never allow anti-India forces to gain a foothold in the country.” He said, “There is very little terrorism or such activities in Bangladesh and the situation is under control. We can assure India that the BNP will never allow anti-India forces or security threats to flourish in the country.” Alamgir expressed hope that fresh elections will be held in the country within a year. Asked whether the BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, will form an alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as it did in the early 2000s, Alamgir said the party has no alliance with Jamaat right now. He said, “Our alliance with Jamaat has ended long ago. But during the recent mass uprising against the Awami League government, we organised joint programmes several times. We have no alliance with Jamaat right now.”