The Hindu : International / India & World : Bangladesh Minister refutes allegations

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Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

International

International - India & World

Bangladesh Minister refutes allegations

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, SEPT. 8. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister, M. Morshed Khan, has refuted India's allegations about insurgent camps in Bangladesh and demanded an end to what he termed the "blame-game."

Speaking at the inaugural function of the "India-Bangladesh dialogue for young journalists," organised by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) on Tuesday, the Minister said the Dhaka-Delhi "blame-game" over the issue of terrorism might shut the door on dialogue. He also joined a section of Bangladesh newspapers in criticising a section of the Indian media for "instigating their government to intervene in the internal affairs of Bangladesh."

The BEI, led by the former Bangladesh envoy to Delhi and former foreign Secretary, Farooq Sobhan, organised the dialogue. It was sponsored by the British High Commission in Dhaka. Veena Sikri, Indian High Commissioner, Robert Gibson, Acting British Commissioner and Mr. Sobhan addressed the session. The Pakistan High Commissioner, Manzar Shafiq, was present.

`Camps not found'

Referring to some recent comments by senior Indian Ministers on sanctuary to Indian insurgents, he remarked: "Politicians should restrain themselves. The blame-game will not bring any positive result to any country, big or small."

The authorities in India were coming up with new lists of insurgents, paying no heed to Dhaka's request for taking action against Bangladeshi criminals who had taken shelter in India. "I keep a helicopter ready to visit such camps, if there are any, but they were not found."

Referring to the renewed charges made by India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, and the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, earlier this week, Mr. Khan said: "We have given the phone numbers, fax numbers and office addresses of Bangladeshi insurgent groups such as the Bangabhumi Andolon, who are in India, and criminals who are hosted by some groups there, but they have not done anything about it."

`Dangerous proposition'

Tacitly referring to the alleged Indian media suggestion "to intervene in Bangladesh for making internal political changes," Mr. Khan said it was a "dangerous proposition."

"... If you do that, the whole of South Asia will disintegrate," he told the function attended by around 40 young and senior journalists of India and Bangladesh. Mr. Khan was also highly critical of New Delhi's "attitude" towards the August 21 grenade attack on the opposition Awami League rally in which the Leader of the Opposition, Sheikh Hasina, escaped an assassination bid. He reminded India that although "Bangladesh is India-locked, Delhi has to remember that the seven north-eastern Indian states are Bangladesh-locked."

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