Bangladesh Responds to India’s Concern Over Dr. Zakir Naik’s Planned Dhaka Visit
Dr. Zakir Naik is scheduled to visit Dhaka later this month, an arrival that is being viewed unfavorably by New Delhi. On October 30th, Randhir Jaiswal, the Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), issued a statement to Bangladesh regarding the visit. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has now responded to that statement.
Dr. Zakir Naik is currently residing in Malaysia. He is expected to arrive in Dhaka toward the end of this month.
If all goes according to plan, Dr. Zakir Naik is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on November 28th and 29th to participate in a charitable event. The event, organized by Spark Event Management, may be held in the Agargaon area.
India’s Demand and Bangladesh’s Response
India expects that as soon as the prominent Islamic scholar sets foot in Bangladesh, he should be handed over to Indian authorities. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had communicated this expectation to the Indian media.
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the MEA spokesperson’s comments regarding the Islamic scholar’s potential visit had come to its notice.
MoFA Spokesperson S. M. Mahbubul Alam told BSS: “The comment made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding the possible visit of a distinguished Islamic scholar or religious personality to Bangladesh has come to our notice.”
He added: “We also believe that no country should shelter an accused or fugitive person from another country.”
Previously, at a press conference on October 30th, Indian MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had stated:
Jaiswal said: “Zakir Naik is a fugitive. He is wanted in India. So we expect that wherever he goes, the country concerned will take appropriate action against him and take our security concerns into consideration.”
