Indian agencies won't be allowed to operate in Bangladesh as they did under Hasina: Zahed regarding RAW chief's visit

No Indian agency or institution will be allowed to operate freely in Bangladesh under the current government as they did during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration, Zahed Ur Rahman, the information and broadcasting adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said today (11 August).

Zahed made the remarks during a briefing while responding to questions from journalists regarding the recent visit of the officials from India's intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Head of RAW Parag Jain, who is also secretary of India's Special Protection Group (SPG), headed a four-member delegation that arrived in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon (9 August), according to media reports citing government sources.

Reports said the delegation arrived on an official "routine visit" at the invitation of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). During the visit, the delegation met with Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and the chiefs of several law enforcement agencies.

Jain also met PM Tarique's Defence Affairs Adviser Brig Gen (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam in Dhaka yesterday (10 August). Afterwards, the delegation left for New Delhi, according to the reports.

Talking to reporters today, Zahed said RAW officials could visit Bangladesh and maintain contact with their Bangladeshi counterparts, noting that Bangladesh's intelligence chief had also visited India. However, "no Indian agency or institution will be able to work in this country as they did during Sheikh Hasina's tenure," he said.

He also said India's response to recent remarks by Hasina, who is currently in India, had made it clear that New Delhi had played a role in keeping her in power.

He said India would have to take the first step if it wanted to establish a favourable relationship with Bangladesh.

During the briefing, the PM's adviser also addressed the government's positions on education, energy, aviation, and several recent political issues.

On education, he said the government was committed to improving the actual quality of education rather than increasing pass rates through various means, as had allegedly been done in the past.

As part of an initiative to familiarise students with the country's history, schoolchildren will be allowed to visit the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum free of charge once a week, Zahed said.

Free access to other museums, including the National Museum, will also be introduced gradually, he added.

Asked about the contents of the museum, the adviser said it portrays the system of governance and the establishment of "mafia rule" during the Awami League's reign.

The government is also formulating a new energy policy to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies, he said, adding that the policy would not provide special privileges to anyone.

He also indicated that the prime minister could address the nation to mark the current government's completion of 180 days in office.

Responding to a question, he said cabinet reshuffling could be considered based on ministers' performance and work reviews, but it has no direct connection to the government completing 180 days.

On former national cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan's possible return to Bangladesh, Zahed described him as a "rotten and degenerate person", but added that the former Awami League lawmaker would face no security risk if he returned.

Regarding Hasina, the adviser said she, too, would be provided with full security if she returned to Bangladesh in December and would face a proper trial in accordance with the law.