India Should Care for Its Own Minorities: Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain to BBC Hindi

Bilateral Ties and Sheikh Hasina: Regarding the current state of Indo-Bangla relations, Touhid Hossain noted that while ties are not at their best, they remain vital for both nations. He expressed concern over India’s response, particularly the refuge and political statements of former PM Sheikh Hasina, stating, "We expected her to refrain from remarks that disrupt the current situation and harm diplomatic relations."

Violence Against Minorities: Dismissing India’s official concerns as an interference in internal matters, he said, "In cases of isolated incidents, the government has taken immediate action, and the culprits are facing trial. We expect India to follow the same principle of non-interference that we maintain regarding their internal issues."

Jamaat-e-Islami and Social Values: Drawing a parallel between Jamaat-e-Islami and India’s BJP, the Adviser mentioned that political parties have their own ideologies. While addressing concerns about Jamaat’s views on women’s rights, he clarified that such restrictive ideas are unlikely to be implemented in the social fabric of Bangladesh.

Relations with Pakistan and Visa Issues: He assured that improving ties with Pakistan is not intended to harm relations with India. Rather, it is an effort to normalize a relationship that was intentionally strained by the previous regime. He also pointed out that India's restrictive visa policy has driven Bangladeshi medical tourists to countries like Thailand and Turkey, resulting in economic losses for Indian hospitals.

Lastly, commenting on India’s decision to categorize Bangladesh as a "non-family" posting for diplomats, he termed it as an "overreaction" and a decision that rests solely with the Indian authorities.