Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday said the opportunity given to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to address a programme of the Global Journalists Club of South Asia in India was arranged as part of a planned initiative by Indian policymakers.
He made the remarks after placing wreaths and offering prayers at the graves of BNP founder and martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
Rizvi said Sheikh Hasina is a fugitive and has been sentenced to death and life imprisonment while also facing trial in multiple murder and corruption cases.
“She fled to another country. Under the 2013 extradition agreement, she could be returned to Bangladesh. The government has sent a letter seeking her extradition, but no response has been received,” he said.
Rizvi, also BNP Senior Joint Secretary General, said Bangladesh and India had signed an extradition agreement for the return of fugitives, but instead of handing her over India has allowed her to engage in political activities.
“I believe this is an insult to our national sovereignty. A neighbouring country which we consider a friendly state and with which we expect relations based on mutual respect has allowed a fugitive accused to present her political views with the assistance of her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy,” Rizvi said.
He described the development as “extremely unfortunate,” alleging that it ignored mutual trust and respect between the two countries.
“Our internal affairs have been disregarded. This is a form of interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs,” he said.
Rizvi said Bangladesh learned of the planned event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally informed the Indian government but there was no response.
“Instead, the programme was held in Delhi on Aug 5, the day of her fall, the day when a mass movement for democracy, political freedom, freedom of expression and the protection of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty culminated in a popular uprising that forced her to flee. Holding such a programme on that very day and allowing Sheikh Hasina to speak is entirely a planned move by Indian policymakers,” he alleged.
The BNP leader said more than a thousand young people, teenagers and students lost their lives during the mass uprising.
He said a neighbouring country which describes itself as the world’s largest democracy has allowed Hasina to engage in politics and deliver a speech on the very day marking her ouster.
Rizvi also said that whenever Bangladesh takes initiatives to stand on its own feet, various international conspiracies emerge.
Referring to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, he claimed that after introducing multi-party democracy and achieving food self-sufficiency, Zia was assassinated through “domestic and international conspiracies.”
He said similar plans and conspiracies are continuing at present.