WE DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS: PRESS SECRETARY TO MD YUNUS

Shafiqul Alam expressed dissatisfaction with India's stance on Sheikh Hasina and denied minorities were being attacked in Bangladesh.

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ABHINANDAN MISHKA NEW DELHI In an exclusive interview, Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh interim government, Muhammad Yunus spoke to The Sunday Guardian on phone from Dhaka on multiple issues, including Dhaka's growing closeness with Islamabad, its allegations against India being a hub of misinformation and the incoming Trump administration.

A close aide to Professor Yunus, Shafiqul Alam expressed dissatisfaction with India's stance on Sheikh Hasina's removal. Despite growing tensions, the advisor emphasized that Bangladesh sought to maintain good relations with India, citing strong cultural and historical ties.

Here are the edited excerpts.

Q: Ever since Sheikh Hasina's removal, we've observed growing hostility from Dhaka towards India, with accusations of a disinformation campaign.

Why has there been this change of heart? A: There has been no change in Bangladesh's stance. We expect good relations with India, given our long-standing cultural and historical ties. However, what we are seeing from Dhaka is a growing emphasis on a disinformation campaign. Let me clarify-we are inviting people, including journalists from India, to visit Bangladesh and report on the situation first-hand.

Bangladesh is an easily accessible country, just a few minutes away from India.

You can come, investigate, and speak with Hindus and other minorities here.

Q: So, are you saying that friendly bilateral relations with India remain intact?

A: Yes, we believe so. But in today's world, perception and narratives matter greatly. What we're witnessing from India is a lot of misinformation, not just on social media, but also from mainstream media outlets, which is concerning for us. Despite this, we still consider ourselves to be on good terms with India. Our linguistic, political, historical, and people-to-people connections remain strong.