India a tested friend: PM Hasina

In an interview with the Indian news agency ANI, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina touched upon a number of issues such as India's support for Bangladesh, the water sharing deal, areas of economic cooperation and repatriation of Rohingya people before her visit to the neighbouring country. Below is a redacted and shortened version of the interview.

ANI: Could you tell us a little bit about what are your priorities in this visit? It is certain to bring India and Bangladesh closer. But what are your priorities?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Well look, India is our tested friend. We always remember their contribution during our 1971 war. And beside that even 1975, when we lost all my family members. The then Prime Minister, she gave us shelter in India. Besides that, you see, these two countries, we are neighbours, close neighbours and I always give importance and priority to friendship with our neighbouring countries. Because I feel that this friendship will give us... It is not only leadership; no, it is for the people.

And how to improve our business, trade and our bonding that is important. India recognised Bangladesh early on, so that bonding, I think that is our main priority…

ANI: Ma'am you spoke about trade relations between the two countries. India is the second largest trading partner. That makes it a little sensitive issue for many Indians who feel like, oh, we should be the largest trading partner of Bangladesh. But you are sandwiched between, you know, you're a smaller nation sandwiched between these two giants, if I may say, India and China. And I'm sure you are asked this many times by the western media how do you balance the relationship?

PM: Our foreign policy is very clear. Friendship to all, malice to none, which my father, father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said in his address in UN. And we follow his ideology. And my point is that we should focus on our people. How to give them a better life? How to improve their lives? And I am always saying that we have only one enemy that is poverty…And I always feel that yes, if there is any problem which is between China and India but I don't want to stick my nose in that. I want the development of my country and because India is our just next door neighbour, we have a very good relationship. With a friendly gesture we solved the land boundary and also exchanged our enclaves.

Yes, many people, especially western world, always ask me this question. But my point is that [for] both India and China, I feel that we shouldn't fight. We should, if there is any problem with neighbouring countries, it can be solved bilaterally. And for our development we need cooperation from any country who offers us, which is of course, which is suitable for our country, so that way.

ANI: Do you see the CEPA fructifying in this visit of yours?

PM: We'll discuss this matter, how to materialise it properly and then definitely I feel that any kind of cooperation that will enhance our relationship and also economically people will be the beneficiary.

ANI: Your family was assassinated while you know, many of us remember that phase of the 70s and 80s…in your own words, could you tell me what you faced in those years?

PM: In 1971, when the war started, my father was arrested. I was, my mother was in custody, me too and I was expecting the first baby. But thanks to the Indian government, its people, India supported our war…also they gave shelter to our refugees. Then comes 1975. Only 15 days ago, my sister and I left the country. I went to Germany where my husband was a nuclear scientist. He was doing his post PhD research there.

ANI: I'm sorry to interrupt, when was your last meeting with your father before you left?

PM: It was 30th July.

ANI: You remember that clearly?

PM: Yeah.

ANI: Your mother and father?

PM: Mother and father... I was... because my husband was abroad so I used to live in the same house. So that day everybody was there, my father, mother, my three brothers, two newly-wedded sisters-in-law. They came to the airport so as to see us off and we met father, mother. That was the last day, you know. Then 15th August, in the morning, we heard this news but we couldn't believe it. It was really unbelievable. Unbelievable that any Bengali could do it. And still we didn't know what really happened. Only there was a coup, and then we heard that my father was assassinated. But we didn't know that all the family members were assassinated. But that time, Mrs Gandhi immediately sent information that she wanted to give us security and shelter…We decided to come back here because we had in our mind that if we go to Delhi, from Delhi we'll be able to go back to our country. And then we'll be able to know how many members of the family are still alive.

ANI: Did you feel that you could be a target at that stage?

PM: There was news like this because those who killed our parents, after their attack, (they attacked) three houses at a time.

ANI: To find you?

PM: No, to kill members, like my father's sister. Two sisters' houses and they killed family members simultaneously…So when we returned to Delhi, it was perhaps 24th August, then I met Prime Minister Mrs. Gandhi…She made all the arrangements for us, a job for my husband and this Pandara Road house…

ANI: So you lived under a different name also?

PM: Different name, and it is so painful that you cannot use your own name, own identity.

ANI: Even though there is a cooperation between India and Bangladesh, but you know when it comes to water sharing, there's always been trouble…Even on Teesta, after so many years, their meetings didn't happen. Do you think that now, you know it can move forward?

PM: It is very sad that we are downstream. So water is coming from India, so India should show more broadness. Because both the countries will be beneficiaries. I think it should be solved but, yes we found that the Prime Minister is very eager to solve this problem, but the problem is in your country. So it's a long standing problem, so it should be solved. But it depends mainly on India.

ANI: Do you feel that the minority community in Bangladesh is as secure and as robust as the majority community?

PM: Well... as long as we are in power, we always give importance to that and I always tell them that you are our citizens. You should own our country. But some incidents sometimes take place but immediately we take action…Even in India also sometimes minorities suffer. So I think that both the country should show their magnanimity and our part, you know Bangladesh is a secular country and we have many religions here. And the religious harmony is very much [present].

ANI: Yeah another issue within India which people are conflicted about is about the Rohingyas. We have refugees in India. You have thousands of them in your country. On one side is the humanitarian aspect of it but there is also a growing demand that they should be repatriated, but safely. How do you look at this situation?

PM: Well you know... for us it's a big burden. India is a vast country, you can accommodate but you don't have much. But in our country... We have 1.1 million Rohingyas. We are consulting with the international community and also our neighbouring countries. They should also take some steps so that they can go back home…As soon as they return home it is good for our country and also for Myanmar…India as a neighbour country, they can play a big role in it I feel that.

ANI: Ma'am you took over the mantle from your father. In India, you know... now there's a... there's a lot of talk about family-based politics and that it is detrimental but in Bangladesh that's not an issue at all, is it?

PM: That's true. That is not an issue.

ANI: Would you like your son to join politics and...?

PM: Look... he's now a grown up. So it's up to him but he's working for the country. Like the Digital Bangladesh we set up, all these satellite or submarine cable or computer training, everything these digital systems, it is his idea and he is you know... assisting me and he is doing it but he never thought about taking any position either in party or ministry. No, he didn't. Even in our party conference there was a tremendous demand for him…He said no, I don't want any position in the party at this moment.

ANI: Why does Bangladesh still not have a viable opposition? Why is there no robust opposition in your country? There's a robust opposition only to see that Sheikh Hasina doesn't become Prime Minister.

PM: You are right. They tried to kill me, several times, but I survived. Even though in broad daylight there was a grenade attack. I don't know how I survived…But the point is about opposition, look in our country like the BNP and Jatiya Party, both the parties were formed by a military dictator. First they took over power, then they became politicians. They formed a government when they were in power. So sitting in power anybody from any party usually doesn't have that connection with the downtrodden people, common people. But Awami League is a party you can say, in the subcontinent Awami League is the oldest political party. In 1949 this party was formed. So we have actually our root, main root and our main power is our people.