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.

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.

Q: In the last four months, reports suggest Dhaka and Islamabad have grown closer. Is this a message to India?
A: No, I don’t think so. Since Professor Yunus took leadership of the interim government, he has been emphasizing on the revival of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). He advocates for a cooperative relationship among SAARC countries, similar to what the European Union has today. The EU has a history of conflict, but now it’s a large economic bloc, helping each other in times of crisis. Similarly, we aim to revive SAARC to benefit the entire South Asian region, including Pakistan. We’ve also signed a trilateral power-sharing agreement with Nepal. More such agreements could be beneficial within the SAARC framework.

Q: Do you wish to modify your relationship with Islamabad?
A: We already maintain a good relationship with Pakistan, but we aim to build positive relations with all South Asian countries, not just Pakistan.

Q: Are there any plans for a visit by a high-level delegation from Islamabad to Dhaka or for Professor Yunus to visit Pakistan soon?
A: As of now, there are no such plans. However, we continue to seek a good relationship with Pakistan.

Q: India has made it clear that the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, will not be returned to Bangladesh. How is Dhaka responding to this?
A: We are not happy with this. Sheikh Hasina is making false and deceitful statements from India, and these remarks are sending the wrong signals. We raised these concerns directly with India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, when he visited Dhaka. Professor Yunus discussed these issues and addressed the ongoing lies Sheikh Hasina is spreading within her party.
People in Bangladesh know that she is responsible for mass killings, disappearances, and the killing of young boys and girls, including Hindus, during the mass uprising. Under her leadership, the Bangladesh economy collapsed. She manipulated growth data and much more.

Q: What was India’s response to these concerns?
A: We raised our concerns with them, and I hope they will respond. You can check with the Indian side for their specific response.

Q: No specific response from India yet?
A: Not as of now, but we hope to hear from them soon.

Q: When will elections be held in Bangladesh?
A: I cannot give a specific date. Professor Yunus will announce the election date after major reforms are carried out. We have set up several reform commissions, and they are expected to present their reports by December 31. After reviewing these reports, we will consult with stakeholders, including political parties, to reach a consensus. Only after that can we discuss election dates.

Q: Can elections be expected within the next six months?
A: I don’t know. It depends on the progress of the reforms.

Q. There are reports claiming that the entire revolution was orchestrated by the US State Department. What do you say about this?
A: This is part of a massive disinformation campaign. Why undermine the revolution carried out by millions of students, young people, workers, and ordinary citizens? Some commentators in India are spreading lies and undermining the revolution. These individuals should come to Bangladesh and meet the people here to understand the reality.

Q: What are your expectations from the Donald Trump administration?
A: We hope our relationship with the Trump administration will improve, and we expect some economic benefits. We’ve heard Trump’s statements about imposing tariffs on Chinese imports, and we anticipate that manufacturing units for low-cost items may relocate to countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, or Cambodia. We expect Bangladesh to benefit from this due to our excess production capacity.

Q: There are indications that the incoming Trump administration will re-examine the actions of the US State Department regarding Dhaka, which led to the removal of Hasina. How do you view this?
A: Once Donald Trump assumes office, he will likely receive reports from his embassy in Dhaka. We are confident that they will provide a thorough assessment of the situation here. We expect our relationship with the US to improve.

Q: What are your expectations from New Delhi? How do you see the future of India-Bangladesh relations?
A: We believe our relationship with India will continue to grow, based on equity and fairness. We respect India, and the time has come to open a new chapter in our relations and solidify our ties.

Q: Are there any plans for Professor Yunus to visit India or meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
A: I’m not sure. I need to check his schedule. Nothing specific is planned at the moment.

Q: Can you assure us that Bangladesh will not become a safe haven for extremism or Islamist terrorism?
A: We have zero tolerance for extremism. We have specific agencies and security measures in place to tackle such threats, and we will never allow such activities to take root in our country.

Q: But why are attacks against minorities still happening?
A: We have been saying that many of these attacks are politically motivated, not communal. There is no communal divide in Bangladesh as people may believe. We have arrested 80 individuals involved in these incidents, and there have been 88 cases of communal violence, primarily targeting Hindus.

Q: Since the fall of the Awami League, there have been controversial statements from Jamaat. What’s your take on this?
A: I am not sure which specific statements you’re referring to, but there has been a massive disinformation campaign against us.

Q: So, Jamaat is not anti-India? Is that what you are saying?
A: I am not a spokesperson for Jamaat. You should ask their leaders directly.

Q: What do you say about the desecration of the Indian flag at BUET and the attack on the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre?
A: We condemn these actions, and I assure you that such incidents will not happen again.