Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday affirmed that only one agreement under the Indian Line of Credit (LoC) with India was cancelled, disagreeing with what his colleague Adviser Asif Mahmud shared from his verified Facebook account.
“Probably, he could have avoided this,” he said, noting that someone circulated the list and a member of the Council of Advisers re-shared it with a comment.
Earlier, LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain shared the list, claiming 10 agreements signed with India during Sheikh Hasina’s regime were cancelled while the rest are under consideration.
“The discussion began since the interim government assumed the responsibility and this decision has been taken following due review,” Adviser Asif commented sharing the list from his verified Facebook page.
When Foreign Adviser Hossain’s attention was drawn, he said the list that has come is not correct and most of the deals mentioned in the list do not even exist.
“I don’t want to make any comment,” Hossain said when pressed for whether it reflects the lack of coordination among the Advisers.
Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Adviser clarified the whole issue, reading out a list of the agreements, of which some are under further review.
The Adviser also mentioned that some of the agreements that came into discussion through social media posts do not even exist.
He said the agreement on purchasing tugboats from India under the LoC was cancelled long ago through mutual discussion.
The Foreign Adviser said a project is usually taken thinking of its benefit and when it does not work properly or there is no progress, the issue of review or reconsideration comes. “Projects are usually taken for mutual interest.”
Asked about the updates on Dhaka`s request for extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Adviser Hossain said there is no update. “We will let you know if there is any update. There is no update.”
Regarding the killings of three Bangladesh citizens in Tripura, the Foreign Adviser said they want fair and due judicial process. “We expect that they (Indian side) will do that.”
Asked about Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan, the Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh wants normal relations with Pakistan and welcomes visits from the Pakistan side.
He said Bangladesh wants expanded cooperation with Pakistan as they have economic interest and they are advancing in that direction.
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