Dhaka unhappy with Hasina’s statements in Indian media

Expressing dissatisfaction over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s frequent political statements from India, Dhaka has requested New Delhi to intervene and stop her.
“The government is unhappy with Sheikh Hasina’s political statements appearing frequently in Indian media. We have communicated our dissatisfaction to the Indian government through the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka,” Toufique Hasan, director general at the foreign ministry’s Public Diplomacy Wing, said at the weekly briefing at the ministry yesterday.
About the response from the Indian government, he said the Indian envoy told officials that he would pass the message to his government.
Hasina fled to India on August 5 after the fall of her government in the face of a mass uprising.
About initiating the process for repatriating Hasina in line with an order of the International Crimes Tribunal, Toufique said the foreign ministry has not yet received any request from the ministry concerned.
Responding to a question about the issuance of a low number of visas by the Indian high commission in Dhaka, the foreign ministry spokesperson said Dhaka has communicated this to New Delhi. However, the Indian authorities said that they had to suspend the processing of visas for some categories due to a manpower shortage.
According to the official, the foreign ministry is trying to ensure that Bangladeshi students, who need to go to India to obtain visas for a third country, can have their visas from other countries like Vietnam, Uzbekistan or Pakistan.
LABOUR COUNSELLOR STAND RELEASED
Toufique said the government has ordered Mohammed Kamrul Islam, counsellor (Labour Wing) at the Bangladesh mission in Geneva, to return home immediately. It also dismissed a local staff member of the mission following the recent harassment of Law Adviser Asif Nazrul in Geneva.
“It was an unfortunate and unexpected incident… we have already taken actions against one of our officers and a local staff member.”
The foreign ministry spokesperson noted that his ministry has already instructed all Bangladesh missions abroad to take measures to ensure the security and appropriate protocol for the high-level government dignitaries during their visits abroad.
A video circulating on social media shows a group of people confronting Asif at the Geneva Airport when he went there to attend an ILO event.
The incident occurred just before the adviser entered the airport to catch his return flight, with Kamrul accompanying him. At that moment, the labour counsellor allegedly remained passive.
MEDIA REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN CAUTION
Toufique said some newspapers recently ran reports on a few foreign ministry officials, particularly those supposed to be appointed as ambassadors.
“This is unfortunate. Officials who are appointed as ambassadors have experience of at least 25 years. The government also considers their ability to represent the country abroad. If such a negative media campaign is run, it hurts the country’s image.”
He requested the media to report on a particular issue only after thorough investigations.
Asked if any reforms initiatives were initiated for the foreign ministry, Toufique said no such initiative has been taken.
He, however, said the government recently decided not to extend the tenures of the ambassadors who have retired.
“We had been demanding this for long. You can consider this initiative as part of reforms.”
He informed journalists that UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Indo Pacific Catherine West will be visiting Bangladesh on November 16-17.
She is scheduled to hold meetings with the chief adviser and the foreign adviser.