Foreign affairs adviser to the interim government, Md Touhid Hossain, on Monday said that one of the advisers to the interim government led by Professor Yunus would not serve any individuals or any other country鈥檚 purpose.
He said that they would require at least one month for firefighting to bring back law and order situation to normalcy.
鈥榃e will quit after performing our duties鈥� All those in the council of advisers are working for Bangladesh鈥攏ot for any others or any other country,鈥� Touhid, also a retired diplomat, told the press after a diplomatic briefing at the State Guesthouse Padma in the city.
Asked whether deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 stay in India would affect bilateral relations between the two neighbors, the foreign adviser said that there was no聽 such reason for affecting bilateral relations for anyone staying in any country.
鈥楤ilateral relations is based on mutual interests and both Bangladesh and India have their own interests. We do our best to maintain a good relation with them,鈥� said Touhid responding to a question.
A 17-member interim government was formed on August 8 after Sheikh Hasina had resigned as prime minister and fled to India for shelter amid a mass uprising spearheaded by student protesters on August 5.
鈥榊ou are all aware that Bangladesh witnessed a second liberation last week through a mass uprising spearheaded by valiant students. The combined forces of the students and people have emerged victorious against the forces of authoritarianism and repression in their quest to end discrimination and inequities,鈥� the foreign adviser told the diplomatic briefing in a written speech.
He, however, said that the interim government would remain focused on a smooth transition to inclusive and pluralistic electoral democracy as soon as possible.
Diplomats from all missions of foreign countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Russia participated in the briefing on the context of the formation of the interim government and its objectives ahead after the fall of the government of Sheikh Hasina.聽聽
Touhid said that some quarters were spreading propaganda and some Indian media outlets were publishing reports based on disinformation about the attacks on religious minorities.
聽鈥楶eople will have to run counter propaganda and the local media should come up with the actual pictures,鈥� he said, adding that there were few incidents of violence against minorities and all behind any such attacks聽 for anyone鈥檚 religious belief or political ideology would be brought to justice.
He said that violence in any forms would not be tolerated and the perpetrators would be brought to book.
An ambassador told the briefing that the youths who had brought about such a big change should have representation at the national level through the next election, the adviser said.
Welcoming the interim government, Russian ambassador Alexander Mantytsky and Chinese ambassador Yao Wen told reporters after the briefing that their countries did not believe in interfering in other countries鈥� internal affairs.聽
Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Espen Rikter-Svendsen said that he was impressed by the fact that more and more youth voices were now heard amid a changed scenario.聽聽
Touhid said that the interim government made it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all deaths and violence committed during the recent mass uprising through nationally-led, independent investigation and judicial processes.
鈥業n the process, the government shall remain engaged with relevant international partners, including the UN, to avail itself of appropriate support for facilitating such processes in a sound and seamless manner,鈥� he added.
He said the foreign envoys were assured that the law and order situations would improve soon and measures were under way to ensure security of their premises as several ambassadors expressed concern over the situation in the absence of security at their residences.
