Bangladesh observing Assam situation

Says foreign minister

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday said Bangladesh is observing the situation regarding Assam’s NRC (National Register of Citizens) that excluded nearly 2 million people from the final citizenship list of India. “We do believe there is no Bangladeshi in the exclusion list … they (excluded people from NRC) are not our citizens,” he told reporters after opening the Sheikh Kamal Memorial 1st SAARC Snooker Championship 2019 at Dhaka Club this afternoon. Referring to last bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jayshankar in Dhaka, Momen said the Indian External Affairs Minister repeatedly assured him that NRC is an Indian internal matter and it will not affect Bangladesh by any means.

“We are now just observing what is going on in Assam …we don’t have any comment on the issue,” Momen said. The foreign minister ruled out the possibility of initiating diplomatic efforts right now regarding the matter saying “India promised us that it will not affect Bangladesh and we want to believe on the India’s promise.” About 19.07 million people in northeast India were left facing statelessness on Saturday after the state of Assam published the NRC aimed at weeding out “foreign infiltrators”, in a process the central government wants to replicate nationwide, AFP report said. A total of 31.1 million people were included in a final NRC, but 1.9 million were deemed ineligible, according to a statement from the Assam government, the agency said.

Only those who can demonstrate that they or their forebears were in India before 1971 could be included in the list, it added.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said there is nothing to worry about Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) list as no Bangladeshi infiltrated into India after 1971.  “We want to say it clearly that no Bangladeshi entered India after ’71, whoever had gone there it was before ’71, As people had come here from India, people had gone to India as well,” he said.

He was speaking at the closing ceremony of prisoners’ basic training and parade programme at Kashimpur Central Jail.

“Our stance is clear. We don’t want to make comment on any internal issue of other country,” he said.

India on Saturday published the final citizenship list in the state of Assam that excluded nearly 2 million people amid fears they could be rendered stateless, reports AP.

The list, known as the National Register of Citizens, intends to identify legal residents and weed out illegal immigrants from the state.

A total of 31.1 million people were included in the list, leaving out 1.9 million people, according to a statement from the Assam government.

The controversial list has ended the wait of millions of Assam residents who will now find out whether they are Indians or “foreigners.” Critics have viewed the exercise as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims, many of whom have entered India from neighboring Bangladesh.

About the bomb blast in the city on Saturday, the Home Minister said, “The attack was not made targeting the minister.” Detectives and police are investigating the incident, he added.

Bangladesh observing Assam situation

Says foreign minister

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday said Bangladesh is observing the situation regarding Assams NRC (National Register of Citizens) that excluded nearly 2 million people from the final citizenship list of India. We do believe there is no Bangladeshi in the exclusion list they (excluded people from NRC) are not our citizens, he told reporters after opening the Sheikh Kamal Memorial 1st SAARC Snooker Championship 2019 at Dhaka Club this afternoon. Referring to last bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jayshankar in Dhaka, Momen said the Indian External Affairs Minister repeatedly assured him that NRC is an Indian internal matter and it will not affect Bangladesh by any means. We are now just observing what is going on in Assam we dont have any comment on the issue, Momen said. The foreign minister ruled out the possibility of initiating diplomatic efforts right now regarding the matter saying India promised us that it will not affect Bangladesh and we want to believe on the Indias promise. About 19.07 million people in northeast India were left facing statelessness on Saturday after the state of Assam published the NRC aimed at weeding out foreign infiltrators, in a process the central government wants to replicate nationwide, AFP report said. A total of 31.1 million people were included in a final NRC, but 1.9 million were deemed ineligible, according to a statement from the Assam government, the agency said. Only those who can demonstrate that they or their forebears were in India before 1971 could be included in the list, it added. Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said there is nothing to worry about Assams National Register of Citizens (NRC) list as no Bangladeshi infiltrated into India after 1971. We want to say it clearly that no Bangladeshi entered India after 71, whoever had gone there it was before 71, As people had come here from India, people had gone to India as well, he said. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of prisoners basic training and parade programme at Kashimpur Central Jail. Our stance is clear. We dont want to make comment on any internal issue of other country, he said. India on Saturday published the final citizenship list in the state of Assam that excluded nearly 2 million people amid fears they could be rendered stateless, reports AP. The list, known as the National Register of Citizens, intends to identify legal residents and weed out illegal immigrants from the state. A total of 31.1 million people were included in the list, leaving out 1.9 million people, according to a statement from the Assam government. The controversial list has ended the wait of millions of Assam residents who will now find out whether they are Indians or foreigners. Critics have viewed the exercise as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims, many of whom have entered India from neighboring Bangladesh. About the bomb blast in the city on Saturday, the Home Minister said, The attack was not made targeting the minister. Detectives and police are investigating the incident, he added.