Amid discussions over a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir today said Bangladesh views India’s move to prevent an Awami League event in New Delhi on August 29 as a “positive step”.

He said Bangladesh expects India not to provide space to individuals who have fled the country and are considered terrorists.

“We will not give space in Dhaka to any terrorist fleeing from India. Similarly, we don’t expect any terrorist fleeing from Bangladesh to get space in Delhi or anywhere in India,” he said while speaking to journalists at the foreign ministry this afternoon.

Responding to a query about the cancellation of the Awami League event, Kobir said, “The incident you described is a positive thing... let's see. But it’s a positive step taken by Delhi.”

On Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India, Kobir said no date had yet been fixed, but the visit would take place at an appropriate time.

“At some point, of course, there will be a visit. Based on mutual respect and mutual interests, we will set a date, considering the availability of the prime ministers of both countries,” he said.

Asked whether talks on the visit had stalled and whether the recent incident had revived discussions, he said, “If we had agreed on a date and it was then held up, I would have said the process had stalled. But no date was agreed upon. Discussions were ongoing.”

“During those discussions, an incident occurred on August 5 that hurt the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh. We have therefore raised the issue very clearly,” the state minister said.

“Now discussions are continuing. Let’s see.”

On August 5, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina interacted with the media at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in Delhi.

Following the event, the government said in a statement that India allowing Sheikh Hasina to interact openly with the media in Delhi was deeply hurtful to Bangladeshis and detrimental to the development of harmonious ties between the two countries.

Recently, a seminar-press conference scheduled for August 29 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, featuring Awami League Information and Research Secretary Selim Mahmud, was cancelled at the last minute after organisers said Delhi police had refused permission for the programme.