India’s remark on BD polls ‘interference in internal affairs’: Jamaat

Staff Reporter :

The recent remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) concerning Bangladesh’s forthcoming national election constitute interference in the internal matters of a sovereign and independent nation, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami stated on Saturday.

“We condemn and protest against the unprofessional remarks made by Indian MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that India wants to see elections in Bangladesh at the earliest,” Jamaat’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum said in a statement.

He characterised such comments from India’s foreign ministry as an “interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh and a violation of the UN Charter”.

The government and people of Bangladesh will decide the timing of national elections,” he said.
India for ‘inclusive, fair, free’ polls in Bangladesh at an early date The Jamaat leader urged the Indian government to “abide by the UN Charter in making comments on the internal affairs of Bangladesh in the future”.

He also called on the Bangladesh government to formally “condemn and protest against the unwarranted and objectionable remarks made by the Indian MEA spokesperson”.
Earlier, on 29 May, India’s MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Bangladesh needs to “ascertain the will and mandate” of the people by holding an inclusive, fair, and free election at an early date.

“We have articulated our position very clearly, as far as elections in Bangladesh are concerned, and we have done so consistently,” Jaiswal said while responding to a question at a regular briefing in New Delhi.

On 25 May, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told them that the country is in a big crisis due to Indian hegemony.