Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky on Wednesday dismissed the allegations made by Bangladesh Nationalist Party, affirming that the government under prime minister Sheikh Hasina was democratically elected by the citizens of Bangladesh.
This statement came in response to a journalist’s inquiry about the BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy’s claim. Gayeshwar had controversially stated that the current government was not chosen by the Bangladeshi people but was instead ‘installed by foreign powers,’ specifically naming India, China, and Russia.
The Russian ambassador emphasised that a significant 41 per cent of the electorate participated in the last national election. He further asserted that Russia maintains a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
The ambassador’s remarks followed his meeting with Bangladesh’s foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, where they discussed various bilateral issues of mutual interest.
On Sunday, the foreign minister said that the current government is a ‘people’s government elected by their votes.’
‘It is a government elected by the people of Bangladesh,’ he said when a reporter drew his attention to BNP’s remarks regarding the government led by prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The foreign minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s foreign policy — ‘friendship to all, malice towards none,’ underscoring the nation’s strong diplomatic ties globally, excluding Israel.
‘We maintain excellent relationships with major world powers including India, China, Russia, the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union, and enjoy good relations with all countries,’ he added, further reinforcing the government’s international standing.
Denouncing Maria Zakharova’s statement, BNP leader RuhulKabirRizvi said in another meeting, “The Russian spokesperson’s statement contradicts people’s aspiration for a fair and participatory election.”
Citing the Russian spokesperson’s statement as wrong and misinterpreted, the senior BNP leader said, “The Awami League has snatched people’s right to vote through farcical elections in 2014 and 2018 and wrote a tainted history in the national and international area. It is not possible to hold a participatory and credible election under any government led by the current prime minister.”
