Sorry, I cannot comment on that: Indian high commissioner on Bangladesh PM’s comments on RAW

The Indian high commissioner in Dhaka has declined to comment on Bangladesh prime minister’s recent remark in which she blamed RAW and US embassy for her party’s 2001 defeat in parliamentary elections.

“I cannot comment on that. Sorry,” Harsh Vardhan Shringla said when sought comment on Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a discussion on Mar 11 alleged that her party’s 2001 election defeat was part of an international conspiracy to gain control over Bangladesh's natural gas.

"What happened? ... The RAW (Indian intelligence) representative had been doing rounds at the Hawa Bhaban (Khaleda Zia's political office then). It was the same case for the American embassy's representative," said Hasina in her speech at the National Convention of the Awami League's youth front for women, the Juba Mahila League.

But many Awami League leaders in private have raised those allegations against the then RAW station chief for being too close to Khaleda Zia's son and for influencing India's decision to back the BNP.

On Monday, the Indian envoy was replying to questions at the foreign ministry after emerging out of the meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque.

The prime minister is expected to leave for New Delhi on Apr 7, her first official visit after assuming her office in 2014 for the consecutive second term and her counterpart Narendra Modi’s first term.