Opposition leader blames Bangladesh government’s diplomatic weakness for Hasina’s Delhi briefing

National Citizen Party convenor Nahid Islam accused the government Friday of diplomatic weakness that he said allowed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to hold a press briefing in Delhi.

“This is a diplomatic failure of the government,” Nahid, who is also chief whip of the opposition, told reporters after visiting a photo exhibition organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He criticized the foreign ministry for issuing a statement instead of taking diplomatic action.

“Big words are used in the press release, but no diplomatic action is being taken,” Nahid said.

Nahid said the Awami League had announced the briefing beforehand and that the Delhi government cooperated with the party. He said Bangladesh should have summoned the Indian High Commission and demanded that the government disclose what diplomatic measures it plans to take if similar incidents occur again.

Nahid also accused the government of developing authoritarian tendencies and called for structural reforms.