Staff Reporter:
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain yesterday said Dhaka does not seek advice from India on Bangla-desh’s election process, calling New Delhi’s recent comments unacceptable while reaffirming the interim government’s commitment to hold a free, fair and credible national election.
“We do not want advice from our neighbors on how elections in Bangladesh should be held,” he said while responding to journalists’ questions at the Foreign Ministry yesterday afternoon.
The adviser added that India had remained silent when farcical elections were held during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government.
Touhid referred to some recent statements from India that included advice on Bangladesh’s election, which he said the interim government does not consider necessary.
“Now we are moving towards a good election, and suddenly advice is being offered. I find this com-pletely unacceptable,” the adviser added.
He said the interim government has been clear since its first day that it wants to create an environment where citizens can vote freely with dignity, an environment that was absent over the past 15 years.
The adviser noted that India maintained close relations with the former ousted Awami League govern-ment during that period but did not raise concerns despite widespread criticism of the electoral process.
Touhid said Bangladesh is fully aware of the steps that need to be taken to ensure a credible election. “People will be able to vote freely, and those they vote for will be elected. That is our commitment,” he said.
He also commented on recent diplomatic exchanges between Dhaka and New Delhi, noting that the Indi-an High Commissioner in Dhaka was summoned last Sunday, while Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi was summoned three days later yesterday.
“This is not unexpected. Such summoning and counter-summoning happens when there are differences of opinion,” he said.
He said that deposed Sheikh Hasina previously used to make statements on social media while staying in India, and that her remarks are now regularly appearing in mainstream media as well, often containing significant provocation.
Touhid said security had been strengthened in view of a program announced to surround the mission yesterday.
“We have taken necessary security measures and have succeeded in ensuring security,” he added.
The adviser recalled that similar programs were staged in front of Bangladesh missions in Kolkata and Agartala, where the Bangladesh mission in Agartala had come under attack.
