BD-India ties won’t be held hostage over Hasina: Fakhrul
Staff reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that Bangladesh’s relationship with India will not be “held hostage” over the issue of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in India since her removal from office in 2024.
In an interview with Indian news outlet The Hindu, Fakhrul emphasized that the BNP, poised to form the government tomorrow, will prioritize projects that serve Bangladesh’s national interests and pursue stronger development partnerships with India.
“We believe Hasina committed serious human rights violations.
There is a popular demand for her punishment, and we think India should hand her over.
But India’s refusal will not prevent us from strengthening broader relations, including trade and commercial ties. Our goal is to build even better ties,” he said.
The interim government had repeatedly urged India to extradite Hasina and senior Awami League leaders who fled following the 2024 uprising, but India has not responded.
Fakhrul assured that legal proceedings against Hasina and her associates will continue in Bangladesh.
Acknowledging potential challenges in bilateral ties, Fakhrul stressed the importance of keeping cooperation in focus.
“Even countries like the United States and China face difficulties in their relations, yet they continue working together. India-Bangladesh relations should not be held back by a single issue,” he said.
Fakhrul also recalled BNP’s historic role in fostering ties with India, citing visits by party founder President Ziaur Rahman to New Delhi in 1980 while Sheikh Hasina and her family were living in India after the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “That’s the statesmanlike approach,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Fakhrul highlighted critical issues including the renewal of the Ganges Treaty and addressing border killings. “We cannot fight a war with India. Dialogue is essential. Those who advocate war are speaking like the insane,” he said.
Alongside BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul has reached out to political rivals, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party, promoting reconciliation.
He criticized the interim government for failing to unite the country after the 2024 uprising, saying, “Prof Yunus could not move beyond the narrow mandate given by the uprising’s leaders.”
Fakhrul also presented BNP’s 31-point agenda, outlining areas for cooperation with India in trade, commerce, digital infrastructure, and skills development.
“India has technical education resources, and Bangladesh has a large pool of unemployed youth. We can help them acquire skills for jobs in the Gulf,” he said.
Finally, Fakhrul confirmed that the BNP government will review major projects left by the Awami League, retaining only those that align with Bangladesh’s national interests.