Zahed stressed that such engagements must take place with respect for Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and self-respect

TDS Desk:

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has described the visit of a senior official of India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to Dhaka as a “normal engagement”, dismissing speculation surrounding the visit.

“There is unnecessary speculation about the matter,” he said while responding to journalists’ questions at a weekly briefing at the Department of Information’s conference room on Tuesday.

The information adviser said the Indian official had travelled to Dhaka from China and was scheduled to meet relevant Bangladeshi officials.

“Such contact between counterparts of intelligence agencies of different countries is normal,” he said, adding that Bangladeshi intelligence officials had also visited India in the past.

However, Zahed stressed that such engagements must take place with respect for Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and self-respect.

“The kind of attitude that no Indian organisation or institution used to work in Bangladesh before can no longer prevail,” he said.

Zahed said Bangladesh now has a government elected by the people and that it cannot build relations with any country at the expense of national and public interests.

‘Realignment’ of ties with India needed

Zahed said Bangladesh must maintain communication and engagement with India as the two countries are neighbours, but the nature of their relationship needs to change.

“Even if friends can be changed, neighbours cannot be changed. Therefore, Bangladesh’s communication and engagement with India must continue. However, the nature of that relationship must change,” he said.

“I have repeatedly spoken about realignment. We have to build relations differently from how they have been maintained over the past 17 years,” he said.

He said a recent statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs also appeared to indicate a growing recognition of the reality of Bangladesh’s elected government.

Zahed also expressed hope that the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka would convey the Bangladesh government’s position to New Delhi.