FM: Dhaka's relations with Delhi, Beijing should not be compared
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said Bangladesh's relations with India and China shouldn't be compared saying Bangladesh emphasizes on its development through cooperation and collaboration.
"Bangladesh's relations with India is rock-solid and historic while Bangladesh has economical ties with China. We should not compare," he said emphasising on joint efforts.
Dr Momen made the remarks after visiting Mujibnagar Mukhtijuddha Memorial Complex where he paid tributes inserting wreath, reports UNB.
Foreign Minister's wife Selina Momen, amongst others, was present.
The Foreign Minister will not want to bring anything in Bangladesh's relations from the India-China relations saying it is nothing in connection with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is concentrating on its development, said Dr Momen adding both India and China are Bangladesh's big trading partners and Bangladesh wants more trade advantages from India.
"Our victory means India's victory. Our development means India's development," he said describing Dhaka-Delhi relations quite strong and nothing can create problems in the growing relations.
Unresolved Issues
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh and India resolved major bilateral issues, achieved progress on water sharing issues and other pending issues may also be resolved.
"There are a few issues. We will resolve those. Keep faith on us," he said.
Asked about trial of coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh, the Foreign Minister said many countries like India and Pakistan went for collaboration.
"We didn't choose collaboration yet. It's regrettable. We ought to also go for collaboration," Dr Momen said.
He said a Chinese company is developing a relationship with the icddr,b which can be an institution of 28 countries.
"We have nothing in connection with it. Some want to make it a political issue. That is purely a study," Dr Momen said the federal government will think about it.
The Foreign Minister suggested to speak to medical Ministry for details.
He said the government has contributed to europe in order that Bangladesh gets vaccine smoothly.
Dr Momen said vaccine ought to be distributed within an indiscriminate way and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it requires to be sure that nobody is left behind.
Bangabandhu's Killers
The Foreign Minister reiterated that the government is working to bring back convicted killers of Bangabandhu, at least yet another in this Mujib Barsho, to execute them to implement the court verdict.
"It's our hope," he said adding that among the killers was executed recently.
The fugitives are: Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Maj (retd) Noor Chowdhury, Maj (retd) Rashed Chowdhury and Risaldar Moslehuddin Khan. Capt Abdul Majed was hanged recently.
The Foreign Minister also sought support from Bangladeshi expatriates living in several countries alongside the federal government initiative to recreate the rest of the five fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and execute the verdict.
One of them is in america while another one in Canada, he said.
On November 19, 2009, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted former army officials for the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family.
Of the fugitives, the government knew the whereabouts of Noor Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin although it had not been sure about the other three fugitives -- Rashid and Dalim.
