Momen expresses concern over killings on borders with India

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today expressed concern over killings of Bangladesh nationals along frontiers with India despite existing warmth in Dhaka-New Delhi ties.

"Our principal is no killing over border and the Indian government has agreed upon that, but unfortunately it has been happening," he told newsmen in reply to a question on border killings at a briefing at his office.

The minister added: "We are concerned over the incidents."

He said Dhaka would relay the message about its concern to India reminding them of their promise to ensure "zero border killing" and seeking the neighbour to comply with what "they have told us already".

Replying to another question about State Minister Shahriar Alam's "supposed" India tour to join a dialogue Momen said he could not make it as the event coincided with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's UAE tour when the junior minister would need to accompany her.

Alam was invited as a speaker in the Raisina Dialogue, organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank.

Momen also ruled out Indian media speculations regarding the visit, saying actually the "things were not like that".

"There was no bilateral engagement during the scheduled visit . . . the media tried to make a non-issue an issue," the minister said.

He said ORF basically is a private forum and no government affairs are related to the state minister's visit.

A regret letter has also been communicated to the ORF as Alam could not participate in the event, he said adding "It's a very simple thing … but the media made it big".

Responding to another question, Momen also ruled out Indian media report that Bangladesh is not issuing student visa to Kashmiri students.

"It is not true at all (that Kashmiri students are not given Bangladeshi visas)," he said.

The foreign minister called the press conference about the premier's UAE tour as she left here this afternoon on a three-day official visit to attend "Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week", "Zayed Sustainable Awards Ceremony" and other programmes.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam were, among others, present.