AL, BNP happy with Sushma's statement on Rohingyas

The government, the ruling Awami League and the BNP are happy over Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement on the Rohingya issue as they hope that India's stance on the crisis will expedite the process of achieving a solution.

About the Indian minister's remarks on the next general election, the AL said there was nothing new in her comments as the party also wants inclusive parliamentary elections with participation of the BNP.

Asked for comments on the issue, some senior BNP leaders said they were "cautiously observing the overall situation".

During a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Gono Bhaban on Sunday, Sushma said Myanmar must take back its nationals who fled their homes to escape violence and took refuge in Bangladesh.

Party insiders said the AL thinks that India will now put pressure on Myanmar to take back its citizens. The ruling party considered India's stance to be crucial as Sushma's remarks dispelled criticism that it didn't stand by Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.

AL presidium member Faruk Khan said they welcomed Sushma's statement.

"We hope India will convey its message to Myanmar and compel the country to take back its citizens," he told The Daily Star.

About the Indian minister's remarks on free, fair and inclusive elections, he said the AL also wants free, fair and inclusive elections which will be participated by all political parties, including the BNP.

"In 2014, we wanted an inclusive election and that's why we tried to convince the BNP to participate in the election. But the party didn't contest it as part of its conspiracies. We hope the BNP will not make the same mistake again and will join the next national election," said the AL leader.

Mohammed Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, said the government welcomed Indian minister's statement clarifying its position on the Rohingya issue.

"India's stance on the Rohingya issue will give a clearer picture about the crisis around the globe. And therefore the global initiatives and participation of all will further expedite the process of achieving a solution to the crisis," he told this newspaper.

AL International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed said Indian's stance on the Rohingya issue was a "diplomatic success of the incumbent government".

"I think Indian's latest stance on the issue will step up the process of achieving a solution to the Rohingya crisis. We are hopeful of finding a meaningful solution," she said.

Meanwhile, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the way the Indian external affairs minister spoke on the Rohingya issue made the Bangladesh government optimistic about resolving the crisis.

He was briefing journalists after a party meeting at the AL chief's Dhanmondi office.

About the BNP chief's meeting with Sushma, he claimed that the Indian minister didn't make any comment on a polls-time supportive government, a longstanding demand of the BNP.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, called upon the BNP not to boycott the next Jatiya Sangsad polls.

'IT'S A GOOD GESTURE'

BNP's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has termed India's stance on the Rohingya issue "a good gesture towards its neighbouring country".

He said during a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the Indian minister wanted to know about the latest political situation in Bangladesh and the electoral process. She asked the BNP to contest the next parliamentary polls.

"We will participate in the polls if a level playing field is created and the Election Commission carries out its duties neutrally. Everything depends on the government," he told The daily Star.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "People-to-people contact is very important for a smooth and sustainable relationship between two countries. It can be ensured only when there are elected governments in both the countries.

"India is a large democracy and it has strong democratic institutions. So I think India should want to see the same in Bangladesh. No democratic government can want to see an autocratic or authoritarian government in Bangladesh and India surely is not an exception," he told this newspaper.

Meeting sources said Khaleda told Sushma that a level playing field would have to be created for holding free and fair elections which would not be possible under the incumbent government.

The BNP in the meeting raised several other issues, including the judiciary. It alleged that the country's institutions had been "destroyed" one after another and the judiciary was the latest. The way the chief justice was treated was rare in the world, said a senior BNP leader, seeking anonymity.