Parliament Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said Monday that Bangladesh wants good relations with India but has seen no reciprocal enthusiasm from New Delhi.
Speaking to journalists at Bhola Circuit House after a four-day visit, the Speaker said the government has not yet announced a formal policy on joining BRICS noting that while the previous administration had considered membership, India had not extended an invitation to Bangladesh's prime minister with due protocol. He also cited Bangladesh's reservations over India granting asylum to the former prime minister and allowing her continued political activity from there also calling it inconsistent with good neighbourly conduct.
He said contacts between the two countries remain limited to the diplomatic level, and stressed Bangladesh seeks relations with all nations based on mutual respect.
On governance, the Speaker said the Tarique Rahman-led government, now seven months in office, inherited severe problems from what he described as 17 years of Awami League misrule, including allegations of killings, enforced disappearances and money laundering, and said meaningful recovery would take time.
He said reform discussions are underway among political parties but acknowledged disagreements remain over implementing the "July Charter." Speaking as a politically neutral Speaker after resigning from the BNP Standing Committee, he expressed hope that government and opposition consensus during the coming parliamentary session would allow reforms to move forward through legislation.
On the opposition's planned long march, he urged patience from all sides, warning that any rush for power before completing reforms could bring further hardship for the public.
Bhola's Deputy Commissioner, police superintendent and local BNP leaders were present at the event.
