Responding to claims made by the interim government of Bangladesh, India on Sunday firmly stated that it does not permit its territory to be used for any activities that are against the interests of the friendly people of Bangladesh.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a media release,“We expect that the interim government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures for ensuring internal law and order, including for the purpose of holding peaceful elections.”
In its reaction, India affirmed its consistent position, reiterating support for "free, fair, inclusive and credible" elections to be held in a peaceful atmosphere in Bangladesh.
Earlier, Dhaka summoned the Indian High Commissioner to formally express its grave concern over India's perceived failure to prevent fugitive former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina from issuing inflammatory statements.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon.
Bangladesh alleges that Hasina is using her platform to incite her supporters to engage in terrorist activities aimed at disrupting the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election in 2026.
Bangladesh reiterated her call for the expeditious extradition of Sheikh Hasina and former minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to face the sentences handed down by the judicial authorities in Bangladesh.
The ministry also drew the attention of the envoy to anti-Bangladesh activities by fugitive Awami League members staying in India, including planning, organising and helping to carry out terrorist activities inside Bangladesh in order to hinder the upcoming elections.
The Indian government was called upon to expeditiously act to end the criminal actions by these fascist terrorists and extradite them to Bangladesh as soon as possible, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh sought India’s cooperation in preventing the escape to India of the suspects involved in the recent attempted assassination of Bangladeshi political leader Sharif Osman Hadi and, in case they manage to enter into Indian territory, to ensure their immediate apprehension and extradition to Bangladesh.
The Ministry emphasised that as a neighbour, India is expected to stand with the people of Bangladesh in upholding justice and safeguarding democratic processes.
The High Commissioner of India emphasised that India looked forward to peaceful elections in Bangladesh and expressed his country’s readiness to extend all cooperation in this regard.
With Inputs from UNB
