Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Confirms Only One Agreement Cancelled with India Under Hasina's Government

Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser, M Touhid Hossain, clarified that only one agreement with India has been cancelled during Sheikh Hasina's tenure. This counters claims by another adviser that ten bilateral agreements were terminated. Hossain addressed these inaccuracies at a media briefing, referring to a list circulating on social media that incorrectly stated ten agreements had been cancelled.

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Hossain, who previously served as foreign secretary, specified that the only cancelled agreement involved purchasing tugboats from India. "After assessment, we found the project was not beneficial for Bangladesh," he explained to reporters. The decision to cancel this deal was mutually agreed upon by Dhaka and New Delhi, according to the state-run BSS news agency.

Review of Agreements and Projects

The government is currently reviewing the Adani power purchase agreement and other projects under India's Line of Credit. These reviews are part of ongoing evaluations to ensure beneficial outcomes for Bangladesh. Hossain's comments followed claims by local government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan about the cancellation of ten agreements during Hasina’s regime.

Bhuiyan's remarks first appeared on his verified Facebook account on Monday. However, Hossain chose not to comment on Bhuiyan's statements directly. "I do not want to comment on that remark. Perhaps, he could have avoided doing it," Hossain said, reiterating that the circulated list was incorrect.

The clarification from Hossain aims to address misinformation and maintain transparency regarding Bangladesh's international agreements. By confirming the status of these agreements, the government seeks to ensure accurate public understanding and uphold diplomatic relations with India.

With inputs from PTI