There is “nothing to speculate about” Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Parag Jain’s recent visit to Dhaka, prime minister’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.
“There is a lot of speculation about this. He has come to Dhaka from China. This is a visit, and he will sit with his counterpart here,” Zahed said at the weekly government briefing at the Secretariat.
He said the government might issue a statement on the visit if necessary, but there was nothing secretive about it. “Our intelligence chief also went to India,” he said.
Referring to a recent press conference by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in India, Zahed said Bangladesh had strongly protested the matter. “Bangladesh has made it very clear that we are tough on this issue,” he said.
Although India later said it was not involved in the event, Zahed said Bangladesh believed there had been some form of endorsement behind it.
He said India would need to help create a favourable environment for the realignment of bilateral relations that Bangladesh was seeking.
“Bangladesh has agreements with India. Sheikh Hasina is a death-row convict, and we want her returned to Bangladesh. We want to bring her back and bring her under the law, but that is not happening,” he said.
Zahed said Bangladesh would continue to engage with India while prioritising its national interests. “Bangladesh will not build any relationship with anyone at the expense of the interests of its people and the state. Full stop. There will be no deviation from that,” he said.
Hasina to get full security if she returns
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be provided full security if she returns to Bangladesh to face judicial proceedings, Zahed said.
He said the government would ensure her civil and constitutional rights while she faces the legal process and accept whatever verdict is delivered by the court.
“We will ensure her rights, and she will face the judicial process. Whatever decision the court makes will have to be accepted,” he said.
He said the government would protect the rights of anyone accused of crimes while ensuring that they face due legal process.
Shakib will also get security
Zahed also assured security for cricketer Shakib Al Hasan if he returns to Bangladesh to face cases filed against him.
Shakib, who served as an Awami League lawmaker, recently told Reuters that he wanted to return to Bangladesh and face trial if he was assured of security.
“There is no reason for him to feel unsafe. He will come to Bangladesh to face the cases, the law and the trial,” Zahed said.
“If he lands at the airport, will people mob him and do something to him? Does he think that? Do any of us think that? No way,” he said.
However, Zahed sharply criticised Shakib over his political association with the Awami League government.
“He may be a good player, but he is a rotten and decayed person. A person who aligned himself with Hasina and is still aligned with her,” he said.
No decision on Tarique’s India visit
Regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India for the BRICS Summit, Zahed said no decision had yet been made.
He said Tarique had not been invited to the summit in his capacity as Bangladesh’s prime minister. Rather, the invitation was extended to the BIMSTEC chair.
“The honourable foreign minister already gave a reply yesterday. Bangladesh’s prime minister has not been invited to the BRICS Summit. Instead, the BIMSTEC chairman has been invited,” Zahed said.
He noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had separately invited Tarique to visit India in a congratulatory message following the formation of Bangladesh’s new government.
“Therefore, a visit may take place at any time. But regarding all the discussions we are having, no decision has yet been made about the BRICS Summit,” he said.
