No situation in Bangladesh where Indian officials, families at risk: Foreign Adviser

Interim government foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain said there is no situation in Bangladesh where Indian officials or their family members are at risk.

Responding to a question from journalists at the foreign ministry on Wednesday, January 28, regarding reports of family members of Indian diplomats being withdrawn from Bangladesh, he said there is no security concern.

Asked whether there was any security signal behind the move, Touhid Hossain said he did not understand what was meant by a signal and described it as India’s internal matter. He said they are free to ask the families of their officials to leave at any time.

He said he could find no reason for such a decision, as there has been no incident suggesting Indian officials or their families are in danger. He added that while they may have concerns or wish to send a message, he could not identify any clear message.

Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh cannot object if India chooses to withdraw family members of its officials. He said overall security has not been disrupted and that during elections, minor scuffles have always occurred in the past. He said this time there has been nothing beyond that.

Asked whether India had officially communicated any security concern, the foreign affairs adviser said Bangladesh had not been informed of any such issue.