Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman has clarified a meeting with Indian diplomats, describing reports by several media outlets as misleading.
In a Facebook post at 9:19 am on Thursday, the Jamaat amir wrote: “In an interview given to the international media outlet Reuters yesterday, a Reuters journalist asked me, since India is your neighbouring country, do you have any communication with them, any discussions or meetings?
“I then said that after falling ill around the middle of last year and returning home following treatment, many people from both home and abroad came to meet me. Just as distinguished diplomats from other countries visited, two Indian diplomats also came to my home at that time. Like with others, I had conversations with them as well.”
He further added: “During our discussions with them, we mentioned that we have publicised matters concerning all the diplomats who have visited. We also wanted to publicise this meeting with you. At that time, they requested me not to do so. We told them that in the future, whenever there is a meeting on matters of mutual interest between the two countries, it will definitely be publicised. There is nothing confidential here.”
The Jamaat amir expressed surprise over reports by some local media claiming a secret meeting with Indian officials. He strongly condemned such reports as misleading and urged media outlets to refrain from publishing information without verifying facts in the future.
Notably, Reuters on Wednesday published an interview of the Jamaat amir titled “Bangladesh's Islamist party open to unity government after February vote.”