A top leader from Bangladesh's ruling Awami League on Saturday ruled out allegations of India's interference in the country's election, months after the crucial vote in January this year saw Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina storming back to power.
Awami League General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, came out strongly in support of his South Asian neighbour at the biennial conference, which was inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner, Pranay Kumar Verma.
"We conducted our elections. India did not interfere. Various countries' ambassadors played their roles, but India did not. They (India) said, 'Let Bangladesh decide Bangladesh's election'," Quader was quoted as saying in The Daily Star.
"Many powers in the world wanted to play an unfavourable game here. India stood strongly by our side," he added.
As Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth term in the 12th Parliamentary election that was largely boycotted by the Opposition, a massive "India Out" campaign was launched in the country, alleging Indian interference in Bangladesh elections.
Opposition and dissidents alleged that Awami League, led by PM Sheikh Hasina, won the past three general elections with the support of India with which the party traditionally has had favourable ties.
In November last year, India said that it "respects the democratic process in Bangladesh", just after an India-US bilateral meeting in the same month, which saw discussions on the Bangladesh election.
Describing Bangladesh as "a close friend and partner" of India, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in a press conference in Delhi that "when it comes to developments in Bangladesh, elections in Bangladesh, it is their domestic matter. It is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their future".
The country's main opposition Bangladesh National Party, led by former PM Khaleda Zia, refused to accept the election verdict.
In the build-up to the election, there were more than 12 arson attacks and massive protests by tens of thousands of opposition party supporters, leading to detention and arrests.
MP Shocker: 19-yr-old girl dragged into forest, gang-raped; six held
A 19-year-old girl was allegedly dragged into a forest and gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a village surrounded by dense forest area under Jiyawan police station,
Manipur govt to provide collateral-free loans up to Rs 50,000 to violence displaced people: CM
The Manipur government would provide collateral-free loans up to Rs 50,000 to the ethnic violence displaced people under the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (CMESS), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced here on Tuesday.
New Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to take charge on January 3
Officials said that Manipur High Court Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar would administer the oath of office and secrecy to Bhalla as the Governor at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Friday.
Manipur govt announces 7 pc DA hike for employees
Announcing the DA, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees shall be increased from 32 per cent to 39 per cent with effect from January 1, 2025.
Wild elephant hit by speeding train in Tripura succumbs to injuries
A 35-year-old wild elephant, critically injured by a speeding train in Tripura’s Khowai district, succumbed to its injuries late Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.
Tripura Forest Department complains to railways after wild elephant injured by speeding train
The Tripura Forest Department has lodged a complaint with the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) after a wild elephant was seriously injured by a speeding train in the state's Khowai district, officials said on Monday.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi asks FCI officials in Agartala to ensure efficient food storage; reviews implementation of Central schemes in Tripura
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, food and Public distribution and new and renewable energy Prahlad Joshi, who landed here at Agartala on a two-day visit to Tripura on Saturday chaired a review meeting to check the implementation of the Central government schemes.
Minister Sushanta Chowdhury rubbishes Manik Sarkar’s remark on Promo fest, says Left front fails to promote Tripura tourism
Reacting sharply on the remarks of the former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar over the Tripura tourism’s promo fest held recently across the state, the state tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Saturday said that the previous Left front government had failed to promote the Tripura tourism.