National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday said that India’s reported act of pushing people into Bangladesh was not conducted through proper channels, terming it an inappropriate approach, reports BSS.
“This needs to be done through formal channels,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the foreign ministry while he was asked for comments about reports that India had pushed individuals across various border points of Bangladesh-India frontiers.
The adviser acknowledged the reports of push in but said Bangladesh continued to maintain a consistent position - it will only accept returnees with verifiable proof of Bangladeshi citizenship of those pushed to Bangladesh territory.
“We are examining each of the cases. Our decision is -- we will receive only if there is proof that they are Bangladeshi citizens,” he said.
Asked if Dhaka will officially raise the matter with New Delhi, he replied, “We are already trying to establish communication with the Indian government regarding this issue”.
According to media reports, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 66 Indian nationals -- described as Muslims and labelled as Bangladeshis -- across the Khagrachhari border into Bangladesh on Wednesday morning.
Rahman earlier, at the same briefing, also read out the foreign ministry statement concerning the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
The statement said that Bangladesh had urged both India and Pakistan to remain calm, show restraint and refrain from taking any steps that could further aggravate the situation.
“The Government of Bangladesh is closely observing the evolving situation in India and Pakistan …Bangladesh expresses its deep concern over the situation,” Rahman read-out the statement.
It said that in the spirit of regional peace, prosperity and stability, Bangladesh remained hopeful that tensions would be defused through diplomatic endevours.
Dhaka also hoped that peace would ultimately prevail for the benefits of the peoples in the region.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
