India has called for Bangladesh to conduct an inclusive, free, and fair election at the earliest opportunity, while firmly rejecting allegations that New Delhi is attempting to destabilise the country.
“Bangladesh needs to ascertain the will and mandate of the people by holding an inclusive, free, and fair election at an early date,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly briefing on Thursday.
Following a question by a reporter, Jaiswal emphasised that the responsibility for Bangladesh’s governance and law and order lies entirely with the interim government.
Jaiswal dismissed some accusations as attempts to deflect attention from internal issues, stating, “In such a situation, if someone says that extraneous factors or someone else is to blame for the disturbances, it appears that they are trying to deflect attention from the real issue and shift the blame onto others.”
When journalists pressed the MEA spokesperson about Bangladesh’s ongoing political uncertainty — including the chief adviser’s near-resignation and subsequent all-party dialogue, he reiterated, “We’ve consistently advocated for a constructive, positive relationship, one rooted in shared aspirations and mutual interests.”
He did not elaborate further.
However, regarding the proposed Rohingya corridor, Jaiswal acknowledged India’s security sensitivities saying “we closely monitor developments involving security implications.”
