Hasina's Incendiary Statements: Dhaka summons Indian envoy
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka over the fugitive and convicted Sheikh Hasina’s continuous incendiary statements calling her supporters to engage in terrorist activists to foil the upcoming election.
In a statement, the Ministry also called upon Delhi for the expeditious extradition of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to face the sentences handed down by the judicial authorities in Bangladesh.
Expressing serious concern, Dhaka told Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma that Sheikh Hasina is making repeated incendiary statements and calling her supporters to engage in terrorist activities in Bangladesh, aiming to thwart the upcoming parliamentary elections early next year.
The Ministry also drew the attention of the envoy to anti-Bangladesh activities by fugitive Awami League members staying in India, including planning, organising and helping to carry out terrorist activities inside Bangladesh in order to hinder the upcoming elections.
The Indian Government was called upon to expeditiously act to end the criminal actions by these fascist terrorists and extradite them to Bangladesh as soon as possible, the statement said.
The Ministry further sought India’s cooperation in preventing the escape to India of the suspects involved in the recent attempted assassination of Bangladeshi political leader Sharif Osman Hadi and, in case they manage to enter into Indian territory, to ensure their immediate apprehension and extradition to Bangladesh.
The Ministry emphasised that as a neighbour, India is expected to stand with the people of Bangladesh in upholding justice and safeguarding democratic processes.
The High Commissioner of India emphasised that India looked forward to peaceful elections in Bangladesh and expressed his country’s readiness to extend all cooperation in this regard.
Following such summon, the Ministry of External Affairs India in a press release rejected the assertions made by the interim government of Bangladesh, stating “India has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of the friendly people of Bangladesh.”
Delhi also said, “We expect that the interim Government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures for ensuring internal law and order, including for the purpose of holding peaceful elections.”
During the summon Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh told the Indian envoy that Hasina’s people are trying to foil the election.
In reply to it, Delhi said, “We have consistently reiterated our position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections being held in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere.”