India failed to invite PM Tarique Rahman with due respect: Speaker

Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said that India failed to extend Prime Minister Tarique Rahman an invitation to the BRICS summit with the “due respect” he deserved.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting with government officials, including the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police, at Bhola Circuit House on Monday (September 14).

“New Delhi had shown little enthusiasm about Bangladesh’s participation in the forum,” the Speaker said.

He also criticised India for providing shelter to the ousted government’s former prime minister and allowing her to continue political activities from Indian soil, calling the move undesirable.

“We need to maintain good relations with India. But it does not appear that India wants good relations with us,” Hafiz Uddin said.

He said relations between the two countries are currently limited to diplomatic communication and expressed hope that Bangladesh and India would continue to maintain good-neighbourly ties.

“We hope Bangladesh and India will maintain good neighbourly relations,” he said.