Foreign minister asks not to compare Dhaka’s relation with Delhi, Beijing

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said Bangladesh's relations with India and China should not be compared. He also said Bangladesh emphasises on its development through cooperation and collaboration, reports news agency UNB.

"Bangladesh's relations with India is rock-solid and historic while Bangladesh has economic ties with China. We must not compare," he said emphasising on joint efforts.

Momen made the remarks after visiting Mujibnagar Mukhtijuddha Memorial Complex where he paid tributes placing wreath.

Foreign minister's wife Selina Momen, among others, was present.

The minister does not want to bring anything in Bangladesh's relations from the India-China relations, saying it has nothing to do with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is focusing on its development, said Momen adding that both India and China are Bangladesh's big trading partners and Bangladesh wants more trade benefits from India.

"Our victory means India's victory. Our development means India's development," he said describing Dhaka-Delhi relations very strong and nothing can create problems in the growing relations.

The foreign minister said Bangladesh and India resolved major bilateral issues, achieved progress on water sharing issues and other pending issues will also be resolved.

"There are some issues. We will resolve those. Keep faith on us," he said.

Asked about trial of coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh, the minister said many countries like India and Pakistan went for collaboration. "We didn't go for collaboration as yet. It's regrettable. We should also go for collaboration.”

He said a Chinese company is developing a relationship with the icddr,b which is an institution of 28 countries.

"We have nothing to do with it. Some are trying to make it a political issue. This is purely a research," he said. The government will think of it, he added.

The foreign minister also suggested the newsmen to talk to the health ministry for details in this regard.

He said the government has contributed to the European Union so that Bangladesh gets vaccine smoothly.

Momen said vaccine should be distributed in an indiscriminate way and prime minister Sheikh Hasina said it needs to make sure that no one is left behind.

The foreign minister reiterated that the government is working to bring back convicted killers of Bangabandhu, at least one more in this Mujib Barsho, to execute them to implement the court verdict.

"It's our hope," he said adding that one of the killers was executed recently.

The fugitives are: dismissed colonel Khandaker Abdur Rashid, relieved lieutenant colonel Shariful Haque Dalim, retired major Noor Chowdhury, retired major Rashed Chowdhury and risaldar Moslehuddin Khan. Captain Abdul Majed was hanged recently.

The minister also sought support from Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries alongside the government initiative to bring back the remaining fugitive five convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and execute the verdict.

One of them is in the United States while another one in Canada, he said.

On 19 November 2009, the Appellate Division upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted former army officials for the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family members.

Of the fugitives, the government knew the whereabouts of Noor Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin while it was not sure about Rashid and Dalim.