Dhaka: Seeking an enabling environment to take forward relations with India, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman on Monday said Bangladesh wants all countries across the world to respect the entire structure of the state, and he believes India has understood Bangladesh’s concerns. “My impression, after speaking with them, is that they have understood it. We hope they will not do anything to undermine any pillar of our state again. This is our expectation, and based on my conversations with them, I am somewhat reassured that this incident will not be repeated,” he told reporters at the MoFA, referring to convicted former Prime Minister Hasina’s recent press appearance in New Delhi virtually.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr. Khalilur highlighted the three pillars of a state – Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary – emphasizing that for convicted Hasina, her place is within the judiciary. He explained that Sheikh Hasina has been tried and convicted by a competent court and that any defence or legal response should be made through the judicial process. “So what Hasina did on the 5th August was. she showed disrespect to the judiciary, one of the pillars of the state. And the Indian government allowed that to happen,” Khalilur said.
He also clarified that an invitation was extended and addressed to the Chairperson of BIMSTEC. “Please try to understand this distinction,” he noted. Furthermore, he mentioned a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which was handed over on the day the Bangladesh government was formed, extending an invitation. “There is an invitation. We will look into it at an appropriate time,” he added.
The foreign minister was pressed on whether Bangladesh would accept either invitation, to which he responded, “We have not taken any policy decision on this matter yet.” He briefed reporters on the outcome of a courtesy meeting between the Prime Minister and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi, during which Bangladesh urged India to expedite the extradition of convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hand over the suspected killers of Shaheed Osman Hadi to Bangladesh.
“We asked them to expedite this extradition process. We hope India will respond positively in this regard,” the foreign minister said. Bangladesh hopes the issue that emerged on August 5 following Hasina’s virtual press appearance will not be repeated, as Dhaka seeks an enabling environment for bilateral relations.
Regarding the Hadi issue, Dr. Khalilur said Bangladesh has provided all necessary documents to India and expects the quick extradition of his suspected killers. “This is an extremely sensitive issue for us as well. We requested that these killers be extradited to us as quickly as possible,” he added.
Dr. Khalilur also noted that matters such as river management and other substantive bilateral issues are not typically discussed during courtesy meetings. He added that New Delhi had understood the seriousness of the matter concerning Sheikh Hasina’s activities on August 5. “No, regarding August 5th, we have clearly stated our position. The Indian authorities have understood its importance with gravity,” Dr. Khalilur said.
The Indian High Commissioner shared his experiences in Bangladesh with the Prime Minister and expressed his immense pleasure at being in the country. Bangladesh reiterated its desire to maintain a constructive, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking relationship with India based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and national dignity.
“Regrettably,” the Ministry said, “Bangladesh’s repeated requests to the government of India for returning convicted criminal Hasina to Bangladesh under the Extradition Treaty signed between Bangladesh and India in 2013 have not yet elicited a response.” The Ministry expressed that allowing her to interact with the media in New Delhi is deeply hurtful to Bangladesh’s sentiments and detrimental to harmonious bilateral relations. Bangladesh was outraged that the absconding “convicted genocider” Sheikh Hasina was allowed to engage in a live media interaction in New Delhi, launching venomous vitriol against Bangladesh and its people.