MoFA disowns ex-army official Fazlur's remarks on India, reaffirms peaceful policy

The government today (2 May) clarified that the recent remarks made by Major General (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his personal social media account were expressed solely in a personal capacity.

"The comments do not reflect the position or policies of the government of Bangladesh and as such the government neither endorses nor shares such rhetoric in any form or manner," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a media release.

The government of Bangladesh urged all concerned to refrain from associating the government of Bangladesh to the personal comments made by Fazlur Rahman.

Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence of all nations, said the ministry.

Yesterday, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also said the interim government does not share Fazlur Rahman's views in any shape or form and does not endorse such rhetorics.

Alam urged all not to drag the government of Bangladesh in reference to Fazlur's personal comments.

In a post from his verified Facebook account, the press secretary said Bangladesh respects the sovereignty and independence of all nations and expects the same from others.

On 29 April, Fazlur Rahman, head of the National Independent Investigation Commission formed to re-investigate the 2009 BDR massacre, in a Facebook post wrote, "If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should seize the opportunity to occupy the 7 sisters. I believe it's necessary to initiate discussions with China for a joint military arrangement on this matter."

However, after Shafiqul Alam's post yesterday, the former director general of the then Bangladesh Rifles, in another post, clarified why he made the remark.