Diplomatic Correspondent

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) believes that the "ice has started to melt" between the party and India after the formation of an interim government following a student-led movement that saw the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister.

The BNP is one of the largest political parties in Bangladesh and is led by Begum Khaleda Zia, who has served as prime minister for two terms earlier. The party has been critical of some of the initiatives and agreements concluded with India over the past 15 years during the tenure of Hasina, resulting in uneasiness in New Delhi concerning the then Bangladesh opposition party.

However, recently, in a significant political outreach, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir at the BNP office to discuss strengthening relations.

Speaking to ANI, Alamgir said that Verma's visit has led to many positives for both countries.

"There was a question about our relations since the last election in Bangladesh. But this time, the visit of the high commissioner (of India) in our office, definitely improved the situation. Ice has started melting," said Mirza Fakrul. The BNP had boycotted the Bangladesh parliamentary elections held in January 2024.

"India and Bangladesh always have very good relations and the relationship has improved. Certainly, this is also one of the turning points for the relationship between India and Bangladesh," he said.

The BNP secretary general said that his party has assured India that should they come to power, they will not allow the soil of Bangladesh to be used by separatist organisations. In the past, there have been reports of militant outfits in the North East of India sheltering in Bangladesh.

"We discussed normal relationship between the two countries. We mentioned the water sharing issues, the border killings, trade imbalances in existence. At the same time, India's main issue was the security problem. We have assured that if we are in the power, we will ensure that this land will not be used by the separatists," Mirza Fakrul told ANI about his meeting with High Commissioner Verma.

More than a month ago, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. While the BNP is not part of the interim set-up it is likely to be a key contestant once elections are announced.

The BNP chief Khaleda Zia was released from jail a day after the fall of the Hasina government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul said, "Bangladesh and India relationship has been very good all the times. But there was some misunderstanding regarding the relationship of BNP and India. I think that ice has started melting. I hope this (relationship) will be better this time. They (India) will try to understand our situation. We, specially, have reiterated that India should try to feel the pulse of the people of this country. They should not put all the eggs in one basket. They should develop relationship people to people."

A step forward for Indo-Bangladesh relations came when External Affairs Minister Jasishankar met the foreign Affairs Advisor of the interim Bangladesh Government Md. Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

"Definitely, it is very significant. After this change in Bangladesh power politics, foreign advisor meeting Jaishankar, must be very significant and very important also, and we believe that relationship will be strengthened after this meeting", the BNP secretary general said.

"The cooperation of the people of India and Bangladesh should be stronger. People to people relationship is the key in strengthening the relationship between India and Bangladesh" Mirza Fakrul added.

The BNP, which has been a bitter rival of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, believes that Hasina should return to Bangladesh and face the allegations against her.

"I don't know as yet if the government made its official request to India to send her (Sheikh Hasina) back to Bangladesh. But I think that the former prime minister should come back to face the allegations against her and she should be held accountable," Mirza Fakrul said.

Meanwhile, the BNP says it has alerted its units about the safety of the minority Hindu community in the country ahead of Durga Puja festival to be celebrated from 9 to 13 October. The celebrations will be held at 32,666 pavilions across Bangladesh.

"We are very much concerned about the wrong narrative that the Hindu communities are facing a serious problem in Bangladesh. I don't think that any serious problem is going on. After every change, there are some problems that are political, not religious or communal. Some events happened. These are all political in nature, not communal. But, we are very alert to safeguard the minority of our country. Specially, ahead of Puja, we have already instructed our units throughout the country to be alert", he said.

The Bangladesh Nationalists Party also believes that Bangladesh would soon make the transition from being run by an interim government to getting a democratically elected one.

Source: ANI