Lagatar24 Desk
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, has voiced strong displeasure over India’s decision to host former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after she fled Dhaka on Monday. The BNP, a key opposition party to Hasina’s Awami League, has raised concerns about India’s involvement in the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.
Gayeshwar Roy, a senior BNP leader and former minister, expressed the party’s stance in an interview with The Times of India. While emphasizing that the BNP supports mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and India, Roy cautioned, “If you help our enemy, it becomes difficult for that mutual cooperation to be honored.” He indicated that the BNP is particularly concerned about India’s perceived support for Sheikh Hasina’s return to power.
“Sheikh Hasina’s liability is being borne by India… Indian and Bangladeshi people don’t have issues with each other. But should India promote one party and not the entire country?” Roy questioned, reflecting the growing tension within Bangladesh’s political landscape.
Sheikh Hasina, who recently resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, fled to India amidst escalating political unrest. Her future remains uncertain, with speculation about whether she will seek asylum in another country, stay in India, or return to Bangladesh.
Amid this turmoil, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, expressed gratitude to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “protecting” his mother. He also urged India to take a leading role in rallying the international community to restore democracy in Bangladesh. Joy dismissed rumors that Hasina was seeking asylum in the UK or that her US visa had been revoked.
The political situation in Bangladesh took a dramatic turn when Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of the country’s interim government on Thursday. Yunus’s primary responsibilities include restoring peace and organizing new elections following the upheaval that led to Hasina’s ouster.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yunus on his new role and expressed hope that the interim government would restore stability and protect minority communities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh. Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to working with Bangladesh for peace, security, and development.
