New Delhi: Bangladesh’s interim government head, Muhammad Yunus, has expressed displeasure over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political remarks made from India, calling it an “unfriendly gesture” in an interview with news agency PTI. He underlined that the former Bangladesh prime minister is “sitting in India” and “giving instructions” adding that “no one likes it”.
He emphasised that Hasina should remain silent until Bangladesh requests her extradition, and if India wants to keep her, she must refrain from making public statements. Yunus confirmed that Bangladesh has communicated its stance to India verbally and firmly, as per the report.
“Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a people’s uprising and public anger,” Yunus told PTI.
He referred to Hasina’s recent statement demanding justice for “terror acts” and killings, saying it’s problematic and causes discomfort for both countries.
“No one is comfortable with her stance there in India because we want her back to try her. She is there in India and at times she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it,” Yunus was quoted as saying by PTI.
He added: “It is not good for us or for India. There is discomfort regarding it.”
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Discussing the future of India-Bangladesh relations, Yunus expressed a desire for good ties but insisted that India must abandon its narrative that only Hasina’s leadership ensures stability. Further, he urged New Delhi to move beyond the narrative that portrays every party except the Awami League as Islamist. Yunus also dismissed concerns raised by India about minority Hindus in Bangladesh as an “excuse”, saying the situation is being portrayed in a “big way”.
“The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour,” he told PTI.
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Yunus emphasised the need for both countries to work together to improve their strained relationship and hinted at reviewing certain treaties, including the Adani electricity deal, if necessary.
“Everybody is saying that it is needed. We will see what is on paper and, second, what is actually happening on the ground. I can’t answer it specifically. If there is any need to review, we will then raise questions about it,” he said.
