Bangladesh home minister says India cannot avoid responsibility for Hasina remarks

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Saturday that India cannot seek friendly relations with Bangladesh while allowing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to make statements from Delhi that he said undermine Bangladesh’s democracy.

“India is allowing these while at the same time seeking a friendly relationship with Bangladesh? The two do not go together,” Salahuddin said at a Dhaka University discussion marking the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising.

Some of alleged Tarique Rahman administration undermined democracy by censoring the press in Bangladesh which was barred from airing Hasina’s speech.

He said Bangladesh would pursue relations with India based on mutual dignity, respect and sovereign equality while putting national interests first.

Salahuddin also said the government was seeking to prosecute the Awami League as a political organization, with its fate to be determined in court.

He proposed constitutional reforms including limiting any prime minister to 10 years in office and allowing members of parliament to independently elect the president.