Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has responded to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent comments, saying that India also needs to decide what kind of relationship it wants with Bangladesh.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (February 24), he said that instead of focusing on what some individuals say both countries should work towards strengthening their ties.

On February 23, during a literature festival at Delhi University, Jaishankar said that Bangladesh must decide what kind of relationship it wants with India. He later said the historical ties between the two countries, rooted in the events of 1971.

In response, Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh has a clear stance on maintaining a good working relationship with India based on mutual respect and interests. 

He said that while concerns are raised from within Bangladesh, similar remarks also come from India.

Referring to statements made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about sending UN peacekeepers to Bangladesh, he said that some Indian leaders frequently make remarks against Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh remains focused on improving bilateral relations.

The adviser also criticized Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, saying that her remarks under Indian hospitality are damaging to Dhaka-Delhi relations and are fueling tensions.

Regarding India’s visa policies, he said that issuing visas is India’s right, and if restrictions arise, Bangladesh will seek alternatives.

On the issue of minority rights, Touhid Hossain said that concerns about Bangladesh’s minorities are often based on narratives created by Indian media. He emphasized that minority issues in Bangladesh are an internal matter, just as India's minority issues are its own domestic concern.

BDST: 2106 HRS, FEB 24, 2025
MSK