Dhaka demands sovereign equality in ties with India

Bangladesh will pursue relations with India based on mutual respect, dignity and sovereign equality, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Saturday, warning that New Delhi cannot simultaneously seek friendly ties while allowing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to make statements from Indian soil that undermine Bangladesh’s democracy and create instability.

“India is allowing these while at the same time seeking a friendly relationship with Bangladesh? The two do not go together,” Salahuddin said.

He said Bangladesh would place its national interests above all else in dealing with India.

“We can never become the Awami League. Keeping Bangladesh’s interests above all, we will maintain relations with you [India] on the basis of mutual dignity and respect and sovereign equality,” he said.

The home minister was speaking at a discussion at Dhaka University’s Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, organised by the Dhaka University White Panel and the University Teachers’ Association Bangladesh (UTAB) to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising.

Salahuddin said India could not avoid responsibility for allowing Hasina to make statements from Delhi against Bangladesh’s democratic culture, democracy and people.

He accused Hasina of responsibility for killings and crimes against humanity during the July Mass Uprising.

Citing a UN estimate, he said more than 1,400 people were killed during the uprising, with women and children accounting for 13-14% of the victims. He also alleged that protesters had been targeted from helicopters.

“Even after that, whether India can recognise her as a leader of democratic culture – this question remains ours,” he said.

Awami League’s fate to be decided in court
Salahuddin said the government was pursuing legal action against the Awami League as a political organisation and that its ultimate fate would be determined by the courts.

“We are talking about trying the Awami League as a political organisation. The fate of that organisation will be decided in court,” he said.

He said relevant provisions had been incorporated into the International Crimes Tribunal Act under Article 47, while the party’s activities had been banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Potential legal consequences include a ban, suspension for a specified period or confiscation of assets, he said.

“The investigation is ongoing. Hopefully, it will be completed very soon,” Salahuddin added.

‘Politics of selling July spirit has failed’
The home minister also criticised attempts to claim political ownership of the 2024 July Mass Uprising or establish political parties around its legacy.

“We have said many times that the politics of selling the spirit has failed in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that attempts to invoke the spirit of 1971 in politics had also failed.

He rejected the argument that the uprising could be understood solely through the 36-day movement.

“If anyone thinks that the 17 years of continuous movements had nothing to do with those 36 days of protests, that too is political immaturity,” he said.

Govt rejects ‘failed’ tag
Responding to criticism that the government had already failed, Salahuddin said it was too early to make such a judgement.

“The government is only five and a half to six months into its tenure, and people are already giving speeches on the streets calling it a failed government. It takes time even to fail. We have only just started,” he said.

He said the government would pursue democratic reforms and amend the state structure, including constitutional changes designed to prevent the return of authoritarian rule.

Salahuddin proposed limiting a prime minister’s cumulative tenure to 10 years, regardless of the number of terms served.

“We will not allow any opportunity for more than 10 years in this constitution,” he said.
He also proposed allowing MPs to directly and independently elect the president.

“We will bring a system into the constitution where members of parliament will directly and freely vote to elect the president,” he said.

The minister further proposed introducing checks and balances between the upper and lower houses of parliament as part of broader constitutional reforms.