AL, allies blast FM for remark on India’s support

The comments made by foreign minister AK Abdul Momen seeking India’s assistance to keep prime minister Sheikh Hasina in office have created strong repercussions inside the ruling Awami League and its allies.

Some of them are giving vent to their anger publicly as well as at the party forums while some former leaders of the AL student wing Chhatra League have hit out at the foreign minister on the social media for such comments.

Presidium member Abdur Rahman of the ruling Awami League said that the party would not take responsibility of the foreign minister’s statement on India as he was not a member of the party.

‘The Awami League remains in power not from any country’s support. The foreign minister has to explain what he meant by his statement,’ Abdur Rahman told reporters after a programme at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office on Saturday.

He further noted that the Awami League would not feel embarrassed if the media asked the party about Momen’s remark as it did not come from the party itself.

Asking not to be named, a joint secretary of the Awami League told New Age that the foreign minister’s remark made the party embarrassed, but a section of AL leaders and activists were happy alongside getting annoyed.

‘When non-political persons instead of diehard politicians become lawmaker and minister, such embarrassment for the party is not unusual. But ultimately the party pays the price for such persons,’ he said.

The party senior leader added that the Awami League-led alliance also rejected the comments of foreign minister, a member of Sylhet city unit Awami Legaue.

‘The minister has no right to make such sweeping comments,’ he argued.

The Workers Party of Bangladesh president, Rashed Khan Menon, also a leader of the AL-led alliance told New Age that the comment of the foreign minister was irresponsible.

His comment made the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh questionable, Menon said.

Moreover, the opposition parties got an unwanted subject to criticise the government.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jasad president Hasanul Haq Inu also rejected the comment of the foreign minister, saying that it was contradictory with diplomatic norms.

‘The Awami League had already rejected the comment of the minister. So we should not make any more remarks about the issue,’ Inu said.

Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua said that as a foreign minister Abdul Momen should not make such comment and he had no moral right to remain as a foreign minister of the Awami League government.

While greeting prominent persons of the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami at the Jatiya Party office, JP chairman GM Quader said that the government could not shy away from taking the responsibility of the recent statement made by the foreign minister.

‘Foreign minister’s statement questioned the country’s sovereignty. Neighbouring India is also disrespected by the statement,’ he added.

At a Janmashtami programme in Chattogram on Thursday, foreign minister Momen said that he had urged the Indian government to back prime minister Sheikh Hasina, so she could stay in power.

‘I went to India and said that Sheikh Hasina’s continuation in power

must be ensured,’ Momen said, adding that he requested the Indian government to do whatever necessary to keep Hasina in power.

The foreign minister said that the Sheikh Hasina government was needed to ensure religious harmony in Bangladesh.

New Age