Dhaka calls cancellation of Awami League-related seminar in Delhi a ‘positive step’

Foreign State Minister Humayun Kabir has described the cancellation of an international seminar organized with speakers associated with the banned Awami League in New Delhi due to not getting permission from Delhi Police on August 29 as a ‘positive step’ taken by India.

Talking to journalists at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, he said, “Just as Bangladesh will not give shelter to any terrorist absconding in India, Dhaka’s expectation is that no terrorist absconding from Bangladesh or anyone accused of serious crimes will be given shelter anywhere in India.”

He further said, “We hope this kind of approach will continue. Naturally, such a step is helpful in creating goodwill between the two neighbouring countries.”

Humayun Kabir said, “The media statement of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Delhi on August 5 has hurt the feelings of the people of Bangladesh. Dhaka has clearly informed India of its position on this matter.” It was said from Bangladesh’s side at that time that such activities of Sheikh Hasina sitting in Delhi could become an obstacle on the path of normalising bilateral relations. On the other hand, it was informed from India’s side that the programme was organized by a private media and there was no involvement of the Indian government in it.

In that context, Dhaka is viewing the recent cancellation of the Delhi seminar with importance. The foreign state minister said, “Now our discussion is going on again. When the appropriate time and favourable environment is created, the prime minister will definitely visit India.”

Humayun Kabir informed that no specific date has been finalized yet for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s India visit. He said, “No date has been fixed yet. However, the visit will definitely take place at an appropriate time. In determining the schedule of the visit, the programmes of the two prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, mutual respect and the national interests of both countries will be taken into consideration.” In reply to a question whether the visit may take place before the session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he said, “No decision has been taken on this matter yet.”

The foreign state minister also rejected the idea that discussions on the visit between Dhaka and New Delhi have stopped. He said, “Not fixing a date does not mean that the discussion was stopped. We have not fixed any date, but the discussion was ongoing.”