Allowing Hasina to talk to media in India is unexpected: Zahed
He urges journalists to raise questions with Indian high commissioner in Dhaka
Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman today (8 September) said allowing Sheikh Hasina, who is absconding in India, to speak to and give interviews to media outlets is "highly unexpected and irritating".
"To maintain a positive atmosphere in relations between Bangladesh and India, the Indian government should stop her from making such statements while staying there," he said in the weekly press briefing at the Secretariat today.
"The Bangladesh government has already made strong protest in this regard," he added.
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Reiterating the government's firm stance on bringing back Hasina, Zahed said the ICT chief prosecutor has confirmed that she has no further opportunity to appeal, and the government's goal now is to repatriate her and execute the sentence as per the verdict.
He urged journalists to raise questions with the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka so the Indian government gives a positive signal to improve relations by not allowing Hasina to speak to the media.
Replying to a query about the decision to increase marks in viva-voce for recruitment to government jobs from grades 11 to 20, he said, "This isn't for any special purpose or to create discrimination, but the government has brought this change to ensure skilled and qualified administrative manpower."
Regarding the purchase of new Boeing aircraft, the adviser said the government does not have to pay the money for the purchase of Boeing at once. The payment will be made in phases over a long period. He said the government is considering purchasing aircraft from the European Union's Airbus in the future too as needed.
About the LNG terminal, Zahed said that despite having one and a half years during the interim government tenure, no far-reaching decision has been taken on the FSRU or alternative energy management.
As a result, he said, the incumbent government has to take urgent steps, including an agreement with China, to reduce the temporary energy crisis as soon as possible.
Referring to the fear of a possible long-term El Nino weather condition, the adviser said food production may be disrupted due to the adverse impacts of climate change.
However, he said, currently Bangladesh has the highest food stock than that of any time in history. Coordination is being done with all the ministries concerned to deal with the possible food crisis, he added.
