TDS Desk:

Shipping adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain on Tuesday said he believes that a breakdown in existing India-Bangladesh ties will hurt India and not Bangladesh.

The adviser was referring to the fast worsening of tensions between Indian people and political leaders on one hand, and the Bangladeshi leaders on the other hand – in the wake of the fall of pro-Indian Awami League dictatorship on 5 August.

It is widely believed that India benefits massively from its existing bilateral agreements with Bangladesh, at the cost of economic losses for its much smaller neighbour. The agreements have come under scanner under the interim government due to their disproportionate nature.

India should maintain stable ties with Bangladesh to preserve its interests in an equitable manner, and avoid losing everything, some Bangladeshi analysts have opined.

Bangladesh wants to retain its stable ties with India, but its 18 crore people would not stay passive if India is too eager to quarrel, adviser Sakhawat warned Tuesday while inspecting the construction works for the Chandpur modern river port.

The people of Bangladesh would no longer look towards India, like they did in the past, if India continues to seek adverse means against Bangladeshi people.

Some Indian media outlets and Indian politicians are trying to spark communal tensions in Bangladesh for boosting their voter base, Sakhawat Hossain alleged.

The political gimmicks are their internal matter, but these would also cause trouble within India, the adviser warned.

Religious minorities are also citizens of Bangladesh and the interim government would ensure their security as its responsibility.

India has repeatedly raised concerns over the issue without providing evidence, and in this regard the interim government would summon the Indian envoy in Dhaka.

In a separate visit to Narayanganj launch jetty, adviser Sakhawat claimed a major conspiracy is afoot to significantly hurt the country’s ready-made garment industry. The government has found evidence of conspiracies being hatched against the industry.

Earlier, government officials claimed India is involved in destabilising the industry and divert Western purchasing orders to Indian factories.