Don’t meddle in internal affairs of Bangladesh

The government does not want any country involved in Bangladesh's internal affairs, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday.

"We are a sovereign country. We are an independent country," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports UNB.

As his attention was drawn to the recent remarks made by the US and Russian diplomats, he said other countries do not need to give prescriptions to Bangladesh on democracy and human rights because these are deeply rooted in Bangladesh's DNA.

The minister said the government is committed to holding free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections under the independent Election Commission.

Momen said Bangladesh welcomes constructive suggestions from foreign friends.

Earlier yesterday morning, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, "Foreign diplomats will not bring anyone to power, the country's people will. Foreign diplomats have to follow the Geneva Convention when they talk about the internal affairs of our country. It's the government who will solve the country's problems, not them."

Quader said this while talking to reporters at the ministry.

On December 14, US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas visited the Shaheenbagh home of missing BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon to meet the families of some other victims of enforced disappearances.

During the meeting, members of Mayer Kanna took position in front of the house and demanded justice for their relatives who were victims of court martial during the regime of late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP, in 1977.

The meeting was interrupted by protesters, who attempted to enter the house. Due to security concerns, Haas ended the meeting earlier than scheduled.

He immediately called on the foreign minister at the foreign ministry to share his concerns over the incident.

The Russian embassy later issued a press release mentioning its stance against foreign interference in local political issues.

The following day, the US embassy in Bangladesh posted a news article about Russia's statement, with a caption that read: "Does this apply to Ukraine? #StandwithUkraine".

The same day, the Russian embassy tweeted a cartoon mocking the US foreign policy.

Later, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, said that Russia believes the US ambassador's visit to Shaheenbagh is an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh.

"Russia considers the US ambassador's visit to Shaheenbagh as an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh," she said.