DHAKA, Aug 10, 2023 (BSS) - Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thinks that if Bangladesh's Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election is held as per its constitution, it will be a fair and good one.

"In a word, their opinion is the country's progress is unprecedented with political stability under Sheikh Hasina's leadership," he told a press conference at AL president's Dhanmondi political office this afternoon.

The press conference was arranged to brief media about the India visit of a high-level delegation of ruling Awami League on August 6-9 at the invitation of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
 
AL Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister, who led the party's delegation, gave speech at the outset of the speech while AL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, AL lawmaker (reserved seat) Aroma Dutta, MP, AL Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Deputy Publicity Secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and its central working committee member Professor Marina Jahan Kabita were present at the press conference, among others.

Dr Hasan, also Information and Broadcasting Minister, said this visit of AL delegation at BJP's invitation four months before Bangladesh parliamentary elections was a very crucial one.

Noting that the meetings between AL's high level delegation and BJP's top leadership were held in a very cordial atmosphere, he said the India's ruling party lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's geo-strategy against terrorism.

BJP leaders stated that 10-truck arms meant for Indian separatist organisation was captured and arms were also captured in Cox's Bazar during BNP regime but there is no such situation prevailing in Bangladesh now, he said.

They expressed their satisfaction over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's steps and implementation of those that none will be allowed to use an inch of the country's land for carrying out unrest in neighboring countries, he said.

"We have also informed that Bangladesh is now a unique example of communal harmony. That's why the number of puja mandaps increases every year, festivals of a religion turns a festival of all, universal festival Pahela Baishakh is celebrated and job holders get festival bonus amounting equal to salary of an entire month," he said.

In those information, the BJP leaders felt the depth of communal harmony in Bangladesh, Hasan mentioned.

AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, its central working committee member Prof Marina Jahan and Aroma Dutta, MP, were in the delegation.

The delegation held meetings with BJP President JP Nadda, General Secretary Vinod Tawde and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on August 7 and Leader of Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and chief coordinator for India's G20 presidency in 2023 Harsh Vardhan Shringla on August 8.

After the press conference, the Information Minister joined a dengue prevention campaign of Jubo Mahila League in the city's Shahbagh and spoke as the chief guest.

Addressing the BNP, Dr Hasan said though it's a large political party, BNP didn't stay beside people in their needs.

But even AL's affiliated organization Jubo Mahila League also stood beside people, he said, adding that BNP should learn from them.

The AL joint general secretary urged BNP to stand beside people after shunning their acts of going to foreign embassies.

He again called upon the BNP leaders to stand by people without carrying out arson attacks on people and police and torching vehicles.

Jubo Mahila League President Aleya Sarwar Daisy, its General Secretary Sharmin Sultana Lily and other members also spoke.