Diplomatic Correspondent

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Sunday told reporters that he was more surprised than worried over Indian defence minister asking the country’s military to be “prepared for war” in view of the drastic changes unfolding in Bangladesh.

Touhid brushed off concerns that there is any risk of a Bangladesh-India conflict now, while speaking at his office in the capital, but acknowledged the interim government would study the reasons and circumstances behind the comments made by Rajnath Singh.

Indian defence chief Rajnath rather made the comments likely to tackle the dynamics in India’s internal political landscape, Touhid said adding the Hindu nationalist leader made unrelated references to the Ukraine war and Gaza conflict in the same remarks.

The interim government would make a formal reaction after studying the comments comprehensively.

Asked about Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month, the foreign adviser said the meeting has not been confirmed yet. Yunus is seeking to meet Modi on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meeting in New York, but Delhi is yet to confirm the meeting.

There is a scope for bilateral differences arising over Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India.

Touhid said India has the right to provide political asylum to Hasina, but only after it formally makes a declaration in this regard, the interim government can inquire about such move.