Former Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty has said India will like to see return of an “ideal democratic” environment in Bangladesh.
After the inauguration of the India-Bangladesh High Commissioners’ Summit on Friday, Chakravarty took questions from reporters.
“Who doesn’t want a good election, truly a good opposition party and a real democratic environment in Bangladesh? As a democracy, India also wants that.”
He was optimistic that an “ideal democratic” environment would soon return to Bangladesh.
When asked for his take on Jan 5 January elections, the former envoy said, “It’s the internal matter of Bangladesh as to how it conducts its elections. We will have good relations with whichever government you elect to power.”
Amidst the BNP’s polls boycott, its arch rival Awami League won the elections to form the government for a second consecutive term.
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The former diplomats of the two countries are of the view that relations have progressed most during the Awami League regime.
The former high commissioner, who served in Dhaka from 2007-09, maintained that India’s bilateral ties with Bangladesh were good even when there was a military regime in Dhaka.
“It’s not India’s look out to see which are the parties contesting the election and which are refraining from it. It’s for the people of Bangladesh to take a call on this.”
Asked about the ongoing impasse over Teesta water-sharing agreement and ratification of Land Boundary Agreement, Chakravarty said these two deals would definitely come through since much of the preliminary work needed for their implementations had already been done.
“We are bound to resolve these issues. Maybe it’s just taking some time.”
Explaining the causes for the delay, he said, “Since there is a federal structure in India, it is imperative for the Central Government to have a proper understanding with the provincial governments.”
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali inaugurated the summit at the Dhaka University’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Hall.
Source: Bd news24
