Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said on Wednesday that in the past, Bangladesh maintained a subservient foreign policy towards India, but the current interim government has moved away from that position.
He said, "Our relationship with India will continue, but we do not believe in any international relationship that compromises our national interests. There-fore, the interim government has moved away from a subservient foreign policy with India."
He made these remarks while answering questions from journalists at the closing ceremony of a workshop held at the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) in Kotbari, Comilla.
The workshop, titled "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Financial Inclusion and Rural Transformation," was organised by BARD and the African-Asian Development Organisation, where Asif Mahmud was the chief guest.
Regarding Indian propaganda, Asif Mahmud said, "Regarding the attack on Bangladesh's Assistant High Commission in Agartala, you have seen that the Indian High Commissioner has already been summoned. The Indian Foreign Secretary has visited Bangladesh and held meetings with the Chief Adviser and other relevant officials. India has emphasised strengthening bilateral relations with us, but there are some issues from both sides that need to be addressed. We have informed India that they must return the war criminal Sheikh Hasina, and stop her from spreading of hateful speeches from India."
On the issue of local government elections, Asif Mahmud said, "It has become difficult to run local government institutions without elected representatives. Currently, officials are handling the responsibilities in local government institutions, which is causing disruption in citizen services.
Nevertheless, they are trying to ensure public service. The chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission has already said that local government elections are urgent.
However, the Election Commission also needs to prepare for this. This is a decision at the highest state level, and they will discuss it once the Election Commission completes updating the voter list and other necessary procedures."
On the issue of establishing the Comilla Division, the adviser said, "I have discussed this matter at the higher level. However, there are many aspects involved in implementing the division. Once those processes are completed, Comilla will officially become a division."
The closing ceremony of the workshop was presided over by BARD Director General Saif Uddin Ahmed.
