BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday alleged that allowing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted, to address a programme in Delhi was part of a “planned conspiracy” by Indian policymakers.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after paying tribute and offering prayers at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
“The day of 5 August was the day Sheikh Hasina was ousted. It was the day when a historic revolution for democracy took place in this country. On that very day, a programme was held in Delhi where Sheikh Hasina was deliberately and strategically given the opportunity to deliver a speech. This is entirely a planned matter by Indian policymakers,” Rizvi said.
Describing the move as “disgraceful”, the prime minister’s adviser said the opportunity was given to Sheikh Hasina to insult those who were killed during the mass uprising.
Hasina delivered an audio address at a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. The event was organised by the Global Journalists Club of South Asia.
Rizvi alleged that the arrangement was made by Indian policymakers.
“We believe this was done through arrangements by Indian policymakers. Hasina is a fugitive accused from Bangladesh. She has been sentenced to death and life imprisonment, and she is facing trials in several murder and corruption cases. She fled to another country,” he said.
Referring to the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, Rizvi said Sheikh Hasina could be brought back under the 2013 agreement.
“The government has sent a letter seeking her return, but no response has been received. There is a law for extraditing a fugitive accused, and the two countries signed an agreement on this. Despite that, instead of returning her, she is being allowed to engage in politics. I believe this is an insult to our national sovereignty,” he said.
Rizvi expressed anger over the development, saying Bangladesh considers India a friendly neighbour and expects relations based on mutual respect.
“To allow a fugitive accused to present her political views there, with the assistance of her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is extremely unfortunate,” he said.
He described the incident as an interference in mutual trust and respect between the two countries.
“I also consider this a form of interference in our internal affairs. When the Bangladesh government came to know about the press conference, the Foreign Ministry informed the Indian government about the matter. But instead of responding, the Indian government allowed Sheikh Hasina to deliver her speech in a planned manner on 5 August, the day of her fall,” Rizvi alleged.
