Fakhrul ‘cancelled’ scheduled meeting with Indian FS

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reportedly cancelled a pre-set meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla though it was Fakhrul’s request to have a meeting, an informed source said here on Wednesday.

Mirza Fakhrul wanted to have the meeting during the recent brief visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary to Dhaka but Fakhrul did not show up on the day when the meeting was scheduled to take place, said the source.

The Indian side finalised the meeting responding to BNP’s request but Mirza Fakhrul wanted to send members of BNP international affairs committee which does not go as per protocol, another source said adding these members can meet with Indian High Commissioner.

A political analyst says it is not clear at whose directives Mirza Fakhrul remained absent in the meeting but pointed finger at London where BNP acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman is living.

Shringla had a brief but busy visit during which he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and delivered the keynote address at a city hotel on Bangladesh-India relations.

source: UNB