Stop springing diplomatic surprises, Dhaka paper tells India

By IANS,

Dhaka : India should stop springing "diplomatic surprises" on Bangladesh, a Dhaka newspaper said Monday and added that New Delhi's "aggressive style" since the Awami League government had come to power showed its "assertion of dominance over a neighbouring country".

New Delhi had "embarked on aggressive diplomacy to pursue its interests" ever since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took office, English language New Age daily said in an editorial Monday.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon's April 12-13 visit was considered to be a 'surprise' during which the official had a one-to-one talk with Hasina. He reportedly warned her that there could be an attempt to kill her.

Both governments remained silent on the visit's outcome and Dhaka followed up the warning by stepping up security for Hasina and her political associates.

However, two Indian newspapers reported on the talks Menon had with Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Army Chief Gen. Moin U. Ahmed, highlighting the death threat warning.

The New Age newspaper took the Hasina government to task for failing to take the public into confidence over the talks.

"... we believe the government had a responsibility to inform the people of this country of the basis and the nature of the threat that the government faced and, if it is baseless, it now has a responsibility to set the record straight.

"After all, threat to the life of an elected prime minister, if there is any, is a great concern for the citizens of this country as well," the editorial said.

It took exception to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee failing to meet leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia during his brief February visit, while he had made it a point to meet Hasina when she was in the opposition.

"There is a danger that the aggressive style in which New Delhi has been pursuing its interests in Dhaka, since the Awami League-led alliance came to power could be reasonably interpreted as an assertion of dominance over a neighbouring country, confirmed by historical experiences in the region," said the newspaper.

The newspaper and its weekly publication Holiday have often accused India of being "hegemonistic" towards smaller neighbours in the region.

It took exception to both Mukherjee and Menon meeting the army chief that it said was in contravention to norms. It wondered whether Bangladesh foreign secretary could get to meet the top Indian military brass.

"�given the widely-held perception already that the ruling Awami League shares a comparatively better relationship with India than its main political rival, the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), the series of overtures from New Delhi since the newly elected government office could end up eroding the latter's popularity and credibility at home," the newspaper said.