New Delhi: Even as there is uncertainty regarding the duration of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India, new Foreign Adviser Towhid Hossain dismissed concerns that her presence would harm bilateral relations between the two South Asian neighbours.
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After more than 15 years in power, Sheikh Hasina resigned and hurriedly left Dhaka on August 5, following student protests that escalated into a mass uprising against her government. She flew to an Indian Air Force base near Delhi and has since remained in the country, though her whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed.>
The Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar had told parliament that she had requested at “short notice” to travel to India “for the moment”.
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With no sign that Hasina’s application for asylum in a third country would be successful, the former Bangladesh PM will have a protracted stay in India.>
At the weekly media briefing last week, Ministry of External affairs spokesperson said that it was up to Sheikh Hasina to decide on her plans.
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At a press conference in Dhaka on Monday, the foreign adviser in the interim government, Hossain was asked whether the continued stay of Hasina in India would harm relations.>
While stating that it was an “hypothetical question”, Hossain said, “If a person has gone to a country, why will the relationship with that country be destroyed? There’s no reason for that”.>
He said that bilateral relations “were a much larger issue”. “It’s a relationship of interests. Friendship is based on interests. Without interests, there’s no friendship. There are mutual interests. Bangladesh has its interests, and India has its interests. We will follow our interests and always strive to maintain our good relations,” said Hossain.>
He was addressing the media after holding a briefing for foreign ambassadors, which was also attended by the Indian high commissioner.
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There had been rumblings among students’ groups and the leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that India should be asked to return Hasina to face accountability in Bangladesh.>
A day earlier, Hossain had said on Sunday that efforts would be made to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh, only if the country’s Law Ministry gives such instructions.>
“What I have come to know is that she (Hasina) resigned and the resignation letter is with the President. This has been confirmed. If the Law Ministry tells us to write a letter to bring her back, I will do so,” he told reporters.>
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