India messaged US about our elections in their own interest: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today claimed that India's reported message to the US regarding Bangladesh's elections is not an interference in the country's internal matters.

"Both India and the US have common interests in this region regarding regional politics. Therefore, if India communicated it with the United States, they have done it in their own interest," he said.

Quader, the road transport and bridges minister, was addressing a dengue awareness programme organised by Awami League's health affairs sub-committee at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi.

Asked about India's interference, he said, "India has been a tested friend of us. We lost power in 1975 and India did not put us in power at the time. Similarly, our exit from power in 2001 was a result of the people's choice.

"I want to ask those who call it India's intervention what happened in 1971. India came forward to help us," he said.

"Their soldiers shed blood, [they] sheltered, armed and trained our people. Is that not interfering in internal affairs?" questioned Quader.

His remarks come after recent reports by Germany-based Deutsche Welle (DW) and India's Anandabazar newspaper that a message has been conveyed to Washington that "New Delhi is not happy with the current role of the United States regarding the upcoming national elections in Bangladesh".

Earlier today, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said if the news on India's diplomatic message to the US on Bangladesh was true, it was unfortunate. He said this would not be good for regional security.

The BNP leader said it would be sad if India took action against the will of the people of Bangladesh.