Modi’s Visit: Protesters pose no security threats

There is no reason for any security concerns for the agitation by some people against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said.

"We are proud to invite Modi to Bangladesh. We will guarantee all necessary protection," he said at a press conference on the occasion of the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on March 26 to attend the twin celebrations of Mujib Borsho and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.

He will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial in Tungipara, Matua community in Kashiani, and a temple in Satkhira on March 27 before holding a bilateral meeting with Hasina.

Several hundred people have demonstrated last Friday to denounce the upcoming visit of the Indian Prime Minister.

The protesters said Modi and his party BJP oppressed Muslims in India.

They also criticised the border killings. India says such casualties happen when Bangladeshis are involved in cross-border smuggling and attempt to cross the border illegally.

Asked about it, Momen said Bangladesh is a democratic country where people have the right to express their opinion and that the government is not worried about it.

"We will ensure full security to our guests," Momen said at the Foreign Service Academy.

He said only a small amount of people, who are complaining, have no teeth.

Awami League is a party having a strong peoples' base and they all support the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, he added.

"We are not concerned over fundamentalists' surge. We know how to tackle them. They mostly speak to the media, in front of the National Press Club. They lost their ground," Momen said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said the five world leaders, including Narendra Modi, are coming not only for bilateral issues but also for attending Mujib Borsho and the country's golden jubilee of independence, which is very special and a historic event for Bangladesh.

"I will request those, who are expressing various opinions…if they love Bangladesh, if they are the people for the country's independence and respect Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation, they must cooperate to respect the state guests," he said.

Shahriar Alam said when the BJP came to power last time, BNP had tried to complain that BJP might not have good relations with the Awami League if it was in power.

"As those complaints did not have a ground, they later changed their position. This is a double standard of such political parties. We will request such parties to refrain from such behaviorus for the sake of national interest."

As a reporter asked about the government observations about the media reporting that Modi's visit to Orakandi, where Modi will meet Matua community, has a political connotation in the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Momen said it was not the government's concern at all.

"We are happy that Modi is going out of the capital. Bangladesh's countryside is beautiful. It can be a tourist destination in the future," he said.

Asked if the rise in the number of Covid-19 infections would in any way hamper the visit of Narendra Modi, he said the government is maintaining health rules in organising the programme. So, there will be no problem in this regard.

However, he said that people should follow health rules, wear masks when going out. Infection is rising because people are touring to different parts of the country and most of them are not following health rules.