A top adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government said on Monday that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India will not affect bilateral relations between the two countries. He said Dhaka will always try to maintain good relations with New Delhi. According to a report by news agency United News of Bangladesh, Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammad Tauhid Hussain made this remark when he was asked whether bilateral relations with India would be affected if Hasina’s stay in India gets prolonged.
Responding to this question, he said, ‘This is a hypothetical question. If someone lives in a country, why will relations with that particular country be affected? There is no reason for this.’ Tauheed Hussain stressed that bilateral relations are a big issue. 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign from the post of Prime Minister and flee to India last week after widespread protests against her government over the controversial job quota system. Tauheed Hussain, foreign affairs advisor in the interim government of Bangladesh, said, ‘Bilateral relations depend on the interest of two parties. Friendship is also a relationship of the interest of two people. If the interest is hurt then friendship does not exist.’
Bangladesh will always want good relations with India: Tauhid Hossain
He said that the interests of both sides are vested in the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India and they will protect their respective interests. Tauhid Hussain said that Bangladesh will always try to maintain good relations with India. Earlier, he informed Indian diplomats posted in Dhaka, including India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, about the current situation in his country and sought their support. Hussain told the Indian diplomats, ‘We believe that all our friends and partner countries in the international community will stand with the interim government and our people. Because we are planning a new future for Bangladesh.’
It is our policy to maintain good relations with all countries: Hussain
Hussain also said that he is not giving up any commitment with any country, as those commitments were made by Bangladesh and not by any individual. During Tauheed Hussain’s first press conference at the Foreign Ministry, he was asked by journalists about the possibility of Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh. He replied that this matter comes under the jurisdiction of the Law Ministry and my office will respond only if the Law Ministry makes such a request. Tauheed Hussain said, ‘Our policy is to maintain good relations with all countries while protecting our national interests.’
Want to take Dhaka-Delhi relations forward in the right direction: Hussain
Tauheed Hussain, who served as Bangladesh’s deputy high commissioner to India, said, “We intend to maintain smooth and positive relations with everyone, including India and China.” When asked about the interim government’s approach towards India, Hussain said that the two countries share a strong and deep relationship. Hussain, who has served as a diplomat and former foreign secretary, said, “It is important that people feel that India is a good friend of Bangladesh. We want that, we want to take the (Dhaka-Delhi) relationship forward in that direction.”
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)