Bangladesh is still awaiting consular access to the main suspects arrested in India in connection with the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, officials said on Monday.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said Dhaka has formally requested permission to meet the two key suspects detained in India, as well as Philip Sangma, who was reportedly arrested for illegally crossing the border along with the accused.
However, Bangladesh has not yet received approval from the Indian authorities for the consular meeting.
“The process is underway,” the state minister told journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening.
“We are in contact with Kolkata, and we are in contact with India. Our government is making all efforts to obtain consular access for those who have been arrested and to bring them back,” she said.
According to the minister, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs is also working on the matter as part of the legal and diplomatic process.
“We will be able to say more after getting consular access and conducting our own investigation. We hope India will cooperate with us,” she added.
Rights concerns and RAB debate
Responding to a question on a letter sent by several international rights groups demanding the abolition of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the state minister said she had not yet reviewed the report.
Nine human rights organisations, including the US-based Human Rights Watch, reportedly wrote to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urging the government to dismantle the elite security force.
Shama Obaid said human rights violations had occurred repeatedly over the past 17 years.
“The Rapid Action Battalion was created to protect people and maintain law and order. But under the previous Awami League government, it was used against the people and involved in human rights violations,” she said.
She added that the current government is committed to strengthening human rights protections in Bangladesh.
Talks with foreign envoys
Earlier in the day, French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet paid a courtesy call on the state minister.
When asked whether the issue of purchasing aircraft from Airbus had come up in the discussion, Shama Obaid said Bangladesh maintains wide-ranging discussions with partner countries.
“We discuss trade, investment and foreign policy with all our friends. Bangladesh will maintain relations with everyone based on the ‘Bangladesh First Policy’,” she said.
The state minister also confirmed that Russian Ambassador Alexander Khojin met her on Sunday.
Asked whether energy imports from Russia were discussed, she said Bangladesh currently does not face an energy crisis but maintains dialogue with multiple countries on future energy cooperation.
“The Energy Ministry is in contact with different countries regarding future plans,” she said.
Middle East situation
Commenting on the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the state minister said the government is taking steps to assist Bangladeshi nationals in the region.
She said arrangements are being made for special flights to bring back Bangladeshis from countries affected by the crisis, while efforts are also underway to ensure the safety of those who remain there.