Recently, India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh asked the country’s armed forces to be ready for war to maintain peace. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain was surprised that he mentioned the situation of Bangladesh along with Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas situation in this context.
During a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon, the foreign adviser said these things in response to a question titled ‘Is it a concern for Bangladesh to ask the Indian armed forces to be ready for war to maintain peace’?
Regarding the Indian defense minister’s statement, the foreign adviser said, “I am more surprised than worried.” Why did he (India’s defense minister) say such things? I can’t find any reason for it. I don’t think we have any chance of a war with India.
He said we need to know whether he said it for the consumption of his own country. Besides, I don’t see any need for India’s war preparations because of the war in Ukraine, or what does the problem with Hamas have to do with India’s war preparations? I also don’t understand how Bangladesh compares with Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas situation. We will see why he said this.
In response to the question whether such a statement by the Indian Defense Minister is a threat to Bangladesh, Tauhid Hossain said, I still think he (Rajnath Singh) said it for internal consumption. So, I don’t want to speculate on this. We must see what it is, why it is happening.
In response to a question about the government’s position on the infiltration of Rohingyas, the foreign adviser said, “We have made it very clear that it is not possible for us to shelter even one more Rohingya.” We know that some people are going in. We are trying to prevent it as much as possible. Those whom we can catch, BGB is sending them back every day.
He said, UNHCR wants us to give shelter to Rohingyas, but we have made it clear to them, we have given shelter to 1.2 million Rohingyas. We have done more than what we are expected to do. It is no longer possible for us. Those who come or want to advise us, let them (Rohingyas) be taken instead.