Dhaka-Delhi ties ‘govt-centric’ under Hasina: Hafiz Uddin

Speaker of the House Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has said that relations between India and Bangladesh were “government-centric” during Sheikh Hasina’s rule.

However, the basis of relations between the two neighbouring countries should be “people-to-people relations” instead, he said.

The speaker made the remark in a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi.

Hafiz also said that the relationship should be taken forward based on mutual respect, independence and sovereignty.

Hafiz and Trivedi met at the speaker’s office in the parliament building on Wednesday, according to a press release by the Parliament Secretariat.

The speaker said that Bangladesh-India relations have always progressed despite various tensions. The historical relations of the two countries have also changed in the context of different times, he said.

“During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, there was only a government-centric relationship between India and Bangladesh,” Hafiz said.

The speaker also touched on the 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections.

He said, “The Awami League government undermined the democratic rights of the people through these rigged elections.”

The path of democracy has been restored through the student-led public uprising of 2024, he said.

The speaker said, “The relationships between the people of the two countries should be the basis of the India-Bangladesh relationship. This relationship will move forward based on mutual respect and independent sovereignty.”

At this time, Indian High Commissioner Trivedi also stressed building people-centric relations between the two countries.

Trivedi said, “The Indian government is interested in building people-centric relations between the two countries. The government is working to fulfil the aspirations of the people by developing people-to-people relations.”

A number of issues related to expanding Bangladesh-India bilateral relations were discussed in the meeting. Among these were the visits of parliamentary delegations of the two countries, the Rohingya crisis and rehabilitation, and sports and cultural exchanges.

The high commissioner extended an invitation to Hafiz on behalf of the speaker of the Lok Sabha to visit India. He also emphasised the importance of exchange of visits between parliamentary delegations of the two countries.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Indian High Commission, the secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat and other officials. �"bdnews24