Nahid Islam Says India Must Stop Anti-Bangladesh Activities from Its Territory

Nahid Islam made the remarks in a post published in both Bangla and English on his verified Facebook page on Monday.

 

Commenting on the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, Nahid said that no initiative to establish normal diplomatic relations with India would be acceptable to the people of Bangladesh without resolving the question of her extradition.

 

According to his post, Nahid alleged that over the past two years, India had allowed “convicted killer” Sheikh Hasina to use its territory to conduct activities against Bangladesh. He described this as a direct violation of Bangladesh’s sovereignty, judicial system and the democratic verdict of its people.

 

He also alleged that the latest developments, including what he described as Hasina’s purported press conference in New Delhi despite Bangladesh’s objections, demonstrated that there had been no fundamental change in what he characterized as India’s “hegemonic and aggressive policy” toward Bangladesh.

 

Nahid criticized Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry for limiting its response to an official statement, saying the government had so far failed to secure effective accountability from India over what he called a serious challenge to Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

 

He also expressed concern over a meeting between Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and the Indian High Commissioner, saying that no public statement, explanation or expression of regret from India regarding the August 5 incident had emerged from the meeting.

 

Referring to the Indian High Commissioner’s remarks about a “shared dream” between the two countries, Nahid said the people of Bangladesh were not partners in any alleged expansionist “shared dream.” He said Bangladeshis would not accept a relationship in which New Delhi claimed the right to influence or determine Bangladesh’s political future.

 

According to Nahid, Bangladesh wants to see a South Asia based on democracy, communal harmony and economic prosperity.

 

He called on the Bangladesh government to turn the Foreign Ministry’s formal protest into concrete diplomatic action. He said the government should seek a clear explanation and apology from India over the August 5 incident, pursue the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and the alleged killers of Osman Hadi, and secure assurances that anti-Bangladesh political activities would not be conducted from Indian territory.

 

Nahid further argued that any initiative by the Bangladesh government to normalize bilateral relations with India would be meaningless if the Awami League were allowed to conduct political and what he described as anti-state activities against Bangladesh from Indian territory.

 

He concluded by saying that Bangladesh’s sovereignty, security and the political aspirations of its people should not be compromised in the name of friendship. Before normalizing relations with India, he said, Bangladesh must ensure an end to anti-Bangladesh activities, obtain a clear position from New Delhi regarding shelter and political activities by fugitive Awami League leaders, and secure accountability over recent developments.