Hasina must remain silent until Bangladesh requests her extradition, says Yunus
The 84-year-old Nobel laureate stressed the need for India and Bangladesh to work together. | Photo: PTI
Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, has said that political statements by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India are an unfriendly gesture and stressed that she should keep quiet to avoid inconvenience to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.
“If India wants to hold her until Bangladesh (the government) wants her back, then the condition is that she keeps her mouth shut,” he said.
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus, who was appointed the country’s chief adviser after Hasina’s ouster, stressed that while Bangladesh values strong ties with India, New Delhi must look beyond the narrative that portrays all other political parties except the Awami League as Islamist and that the country will turn into Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina.
“Nobody is happy with her attitude there in India, because we want her back to test her. She is there in India and sometimes she talks, which is problematic. If she had been quiet, we would have forgotten; people would have forgotten, just as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she speaks and gives instructions. Nobody likes it, he said.
It is not good for us and for India. There is discomfort about it, he told PTI.
Yunus was apparently referring to Hasina’s August 13 statement in which she demanded “justice,” saying those involved in recent “terrorist acts,” killings and vandalism should be investigated, identified and punished.
This is the only statement Hasina made after she fled. It was posted on the X-handle of her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
After unprecedented anti-government protests that culminated on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India. Her presence in India for nearly four weeks has fueled speculation in Bangladesh.
When asked whether Bangladesh had communicated its position to India, Yunus replied that it had been communicated verbally and emphatically and that she should keep quiet.
Everyone understands. We have strongly told her to keep her mouth shut. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and is campaigning there. It is not like she went there in a normal way. She fled after a popular uprising and public anger, he said.
Yunus stated that the interim government is committed to ensuring justice for the people of Bangladesh against the atrocities, and that justice requires their return to the country.
Yes, she must be brought back, otherwise the people of Bangladesh will not know peace. The atrocities that she committed, she must be brought to justice before everyone here, he stressed.
Discussing the future of India-Bangladesh relations, Yunus said he would like to have good ties with India but stressed that New Delhi must abandon the idea that only Hasina’s leadership can ensure the country’s stability.
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, everybody else is Islamist and will make this country Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with only Sheikh Hasina at the helm. India is caught in this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh is a neighbour like any other country, he said.
Referring to the recent incidents of alleged attacks on Hindu minorities in the country and India, which have raised concerns, Yunus said this is just an excuse.
According to him, the fact that the circumstances of minorities are portrayed in such a large light is merely an excuse.
The Hindu minority faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, and destruction of Hindu temples during the student-led violence that broke out after Hasina’s ouster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would soon return to normal. He also said that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country.
The 84-year-old Nobel laureate stressed the need for India and Bangladesh to work together to improve the currently tense relationship.
When asked how India-Bangladesh relations could be improved, Yunus said both countries need to work together and that the relationship is currently deteriorating.
We must work together to improve this relationship, which has now reached a low point, he said.
On the future of bilateral treaties with India, Yunus said there is a demand for a review of certain treaties such as the Transit Agreement and the Adani electricity deal.
Everyone says it is necessary. We will see what is on paper and, secondly, what actually happens on the ground. I cannot answer specifically. If there is a need for revision, we will ask questions about it, he said.
The BNP has said that if it comes to power, it will review and reevaluate the questionable Adani power deal that was struck during the Awami League’s rule, which has put enormous pressure on the people of Bangladesh.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First publication: 05 Sep 2024 | 17:33 IST