Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, calls up Sheikh Hasina to apparently clarify his controversial remarks which threatened to sour relations. Full Story
Published : 04 Jul 2011, 03:43 PM
Dhaka, July 4 (bdnews24.com)—Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, called up Sheikh Hasina on Monday evening apparently to clarify his controversial remarks which threatened to sour relations.
During the phone call around 8pm when Hasina was at her official home Ganabhaban, Singh praised her leadership, and said he was sure his Sept 6-7 visit would be a historic one, press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
Azad did not say whether the two prime ministers discussed Singh's controversial Bangladesh remarks on Wednesday.
But the phone call was made in the backdrop of what a major Indian newspaper called the embarrassing gaffe by Singh when during a meeting with newspaper editor he suggested that there could be a sudden change in Bangladesh's political landscape.
According to Azad, Singh assured Hasina that the Indian government will keep assisting Bangladesh in its bid to strengthen democracy, establish a secular and peaceful society.
Quoting Singh, he said, "The expectations of the people of the two countries will be met in all aspects during the visit."
Singh was quoted to have told Hasina that her 'dynamic leadership' had led Bangladesh to achieve significant success in socio-economic development.
"The Indian prime minister said he believes the people of Bangladesh are peace-loving and that they want to continue friendly ties with neighbouring countries," Azad said.
"It is possible to settle all the problems between the two countries," Azad quoted Singh.
Hasina thanked Singh and said the people of Bangladesh were eagerly awaiting his visit, Azad said.
Her government was determined to establishing peace in the region, Hasina said.
"Our relations (with Bangladesh) are quite good. But we must reckon that at least 25 percent of the population of Bangladesh swears by the Jamaat-e-Islami and they are very anti-Indian, and they are in the clutches, many times, of the ISI," Singh remarked at the meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday.
"…political landscape in Bangladesh can change at any time. We do not know what these terrorist elements, who have a hold on the [Jamaat-e-Islami] elements in Bangladesh, can be up to," said Singh.
The Prime Minister's Office in India uploaded the transcript of the Q&A session but later removed it.
The Singh comments caused a clamour not only in Bangladesh, but also back home where former high commissioners who had served in Dhaka dismissed the them as 'irresponsible'.
Bangladesh has not made any official comment on the issue, but according to sources, the issue came up for discussions when high commissioner Rajeet Mitter met foreign secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes on Sunday afternoon.
Quayes did not comment on the matter but said to queries from reporters: "I shall neither confirm nor deny (discussing the Indian PM remarks)."
A top Hasina advisor had however predicted the phone call in an exclusive interview with bdnews24.com on Sunday night.
"I have no doubt that Manmohan Singh will privately communicate with the prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) and explain his remarks," international affairs advisor Gowher Rizvi told bdnews24.com.
"Bangladesh and India enjoy exceptionally cordial relationship and Dr Singh is one of the strongest friends of prime minister Hasina," Rizvi said.
"I have not seen the question-answer transcript… It is possible that some references were made," the advisor said.
bdnews24.com/sum/nir/2223h
Related old stories
The transcript of Manmohan Singh's Bangladesh comments
Dhaka won't return comments
India fears sudden change in Bangladesh
Manmohan's remarks go off web