A Correspondent:
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said Bangladesh wants to see a “normal and friendly” relationship with India protecting mutual interest, noting that he sees West Bengal Chief Minis-ter Mamata Banerjee’s remark as usual that goes with her.
“I would like to see this as Mamata-like remarks. I don’t understand why she has made such remarks,” he said while responding to a question at a media briefing.
Touhid said he personally thinks it is not a right step from her though politicians make remarks on vari-ous perspectives.
Indian media on Monday reported that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the central government to seek the deployment of a peacekeeping mission by the Union Nations in Bangladesh to tackle the ongoing situation there.
“We have families… properties… and loved ones in Bangladesh. We accept whatever stance the Gov-ernment of India takes on this…but we condemn atrocities on religious grounds anywhere in the world and appeal to the union government, and the Prime Minister, to intervene,” NDTV quoted Mamata as saying.
Earlier, the Adviser briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka at state guesthouse Padma on minority is-sues explaining the government’s position and describing the situation on the grounds.
He said a section of the media, especially in India, is engaged in propaganda. “We said that we as a soci-ety have always been maintaining communal harmony. “We are not saying that there are no such inci-dents of attacks on minorities, but those are isolated and happen more or less during all regimes.”
Hossain said the government conveyed to the diplomats that religious harmony is part of the society and the government is firmly determined to maintain it.
He said there are efforts domestically and globally to give an impression that the country is heading to-wards a deteriorated situation. “We should not forget that there is a global campaign (against the gov-ernment) by a certain group.”
The Adviser said the government will handle it with an iron-hand if anyone tries to create chaos in the country.
