Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy, Demands Action to Stop Hasina’s Speeches

Bangladesh lodged strong protest on Tuesday (6 February) against the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged false and fabricated statements urging India to prevent her making such remarks so long as she is in that country.

The Dhaka Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially released a press statement following a formal protest, emphasizing that Hasina’s comments are inflaming instability in Bangladesh and impacting public opinion.

Diplomatic Protest Lodged

To address the problem, the foreign ministry summoned Indian Acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pawan Badhe and sent a formal diplomatic note to him. This note conveyed Bangladesh’s deep concern, disappointment, and serious reservations regarding Hasina’s remarks. It made it explicit that they hurt the sentiments of the Bangladeshi people.

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain added, “Hasina’s statement was very aggressive, which must have hurt the sentiments of the young generation.” He said Bangladesh will watch the response from the Indian side closely. “We will see what steps India takes,” he added, saying that Dhaka has been asking New Delhi time and again to ask Hasina not to indulge in such activities.

Bangladesh terms Hasina’s statement as ‘Hostile Act

The foreign ministry sees Hasina’s activities as a hostile act against Bangladesh. It emphasized the fact that such behavior is injurious to a healthy diplomatic relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Bangladesh urged India to take immediate action in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding to stop Hasina from making inflammatory statements through social media and other channels of communication during her visit to India.

Bangladesh Criticizes India’s Adani Deal

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain responded to a query on agreements with India regarding Bangladesh’s energy deal with the Adani Group. “The deal with Adani was not a good one, and it was not done protecting Bangladesh’s interests,” he said, criticizing the terms of the agreement.

However, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will lead a very short official visit to the United Arab Emirates for talk on mutual areas of interests on visa related areas.