Bangladesh does not need India’s advice on elections Foreign Adviser

Diplomatic Correspondent :

Bangladesh does not entertain India’s advice on how to conduct its national elections, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Wednesday, pointing out that New Delhi remained silent during what he described as the country’s last 15 years of farcical elections.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said the interim government was fully capable of organising a credible, participatory election without external instruction.

“We know what we have to do,” he said. “Our objective is to ensure an environment where people can go to polling stations and vote freely. This advice is unnecessary, especially when there was no such concern during the previous 15 years.”

“They have adviced us in their last statement. I don’t think such advice is necessary. We don’t want any advice from our neighbours how our election would be held,” he said.

“We have clearly stated from day one that we want to create an environment where people of a very high standard can cast vote.

Now India is advicing us which is completely unacceptable because they had a deeper relation with the government in power in the last 15 years.

But they (India) did not utter a single word about the farcical election.” He said.
The Adviser further said that Bangladesh is heading towards a good election.
“There is no need to advice us.

We will hold such an election where people can cast votes. Candidates would be elected by their votes which did not take place in the last 15 years,” Touhid said.

The European Union, along with several countries and alliances, has also commented on the upcoming national election.

When asked whether that meant they too had made remarks on the election similar to India, the foreign adviser said, “The issue is not the same.

We maintain regular communication with them, and they are also in contact with the Election Commission, because we want them to send their observers here.”

Turning to India’s remarks, the foreign adviser said, “That is different. They issued a statement saying our position is not acceptable and, at the same time, offered advice on how the election should be held.

We cannot accept this kind of advice, especially because such a sentiment was not seen from them over the past 15 years. Why have they suddenly chosen to demand this now?” In reply to another question, the adviser confirmed that Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India had been summoned by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and handed a protest note, while Dhaka had also called in India’s High Commissioner to convey its own position.

“From the very beginning of this government up to now, there has been a degree of strain relation with India. Accepting that reality, we have always said that we want a good working relationship.

It cannot happen just because we want it; both sides have to make an effort to move forward,” he said.

“I think that together we may not have progressed as much as we should have, which is why the strain has remained.

Recently, we have had objections on certain issues, and they also have their own positions,” he said.

Hossain reiterated Bangladesh’s objections to repeated statements and interviews given by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, saying they contained provocative elements and risked creating instability ahead of the elections.

“Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India. Earlier, we saw that she used to make statements only on social media. But subsequently, her remarks have appeared in the mainstream media as well.

Those statements contain a great deal of provocation. She has been convicted by a court, yet from a neighbouring country she is trying to create instability here.

We will raise objections to this and seek their cooperation to have her sent back,” he said.

Referring to the temporary suspension of Indian visa centres in Dhaka from Wednesday afternoon, Hossain said it had not been informed of any indefinite closure.

He said the decision appeared to be linked to a scheduled programme and security considerations.

He added that visa issuance was a sovereign matter and that Bangladesh had no role in decisions taken by another country on visa services.

In reply to question that India did not recogise Bangladesh independence in their speech on 16 December, he said, “Those who deny the contribution of the freedom fighters here have no knowledge of military history or military science.

They try to deny it, but this denial is meaningless; they could not have achieved this victory without the help of the freedom fighters.”

Responding to a question about whether BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s application for travel pass to return to Bangladesh on December 25, Foreign Adviser said, “We don’t have any such information till Tuesday.

Of course, we will know if he asks for it because his previous passport has expired. Therefore, he must bring some document. Our mission will issue that document.”