Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh today termed recent remarks by New Delhi regarding its internal matters "unwarranted" and amounting to "interference" in another country's domestic affairs.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam during the ministry’s weekly briefing said Bangladesh took note of comments made by India’s external affair ministry (MEA) spokesperson’s March 7 comments concerning Bangladesh's elections, law and order situation and matters related to minorities.

"Bangladesh firmly believes these issues are entirely its internal affairs, and such remarks are unwarranted and tantamount to interference in another country's domestic matters," he said.

Alam, who also serves as the ministry’s public diplomacy wing director, said the New Delhi comments were misleading as well as those did not “reflect reality on the ground".

MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal in his latest such briefing said New Delhi support “a stable, peaceful, inclusive and progressive Bangladesh in which all issues are resolved through democratic means and by holding inclusive and participatory elections”.

“We remain concerned about the deteriorating law and order situation as you mentioned which has been further exacerbated by the release of violent extremists who were sentenced for serious crimes,” he said.

The foreign office spokesman said Bangladesh upholds the principles of respecting every nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs while Dhaka remains committed to fostering friendly and constructive relations with India based on mutual respect, trust, and understanding.

"From this perspective, Bangladesh hopes that the relevant authorities of the Indian government will take necessary measures to refrain from making such remarks," he added.

Alam said the two countries were in engagements while the frontier forces of the two countries held a four-day Director General-level meeting last month in New Delhi when BGB side urged their BSF counterparts to take necessary measures to bring border killings of Bangladeshi citizens down to zero.
The spokesperson said several issues were agreed upon during the meeting, including the construction of barbed wire fences within 150 yards of the border based on joint inspections and discussions following appropriate procedures.

He said both sides also agreed to enhance border surveillance to prevent misunderstandings and unpleasant situations arising from illegal border crossings by civilians and security personnel from either side, in violation of international boundary laws.