Relations With India Changed After Sheikh Hasina's Ouster: Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor

In a major statement, Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain said on Saturday (November 30) that the country's relations with its neighbour India changed after former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post and fled to India on August 5.

"After August 5, relations with India have been changed and this is the reality," said Hussain.

He is an advisor to Bangladesh's interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhmmed Yunus.

Hussain was speaking at a seminar at North South University in Dhaka. He opined that Bangladesh should build a relationship with India keeping in mind 'this reality'.

"It is in view of this reality that we have to build and continue our relationship with India. I believe India will understand how to take forward relations with Bangladesh under the changed circumstances," Hossain said.

Sheikh Hasina was widely perceived to be a 'pro-India' leader. After leaving Bangladesh, she was planning to go to United Kingdom for political asylum. But till date she is in India.

Anti-Hasina elements in Bangladesh politics have become active after the former PM's ouster from office.

"The previous government (of Bangladesh) tried its best to remove India's concerns. We also had some concerns. Problems are happening because our problems are not being addressed," Touhid said, without elaborating.

He sought to maintain however, that Bangladesh would want good relations with India.

"We would like to be optimistic that we can establish a good relationship so that the interests of both parties are protected. We will not be a cause harm to anyone. We want no one to be cause us harm," he said.