“We Have Been Advised; No Guidance on Elections Needed,” Says Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain

Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections have drawn comments from India, but Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain made it clear on Wednesday that Bangladesh is not seeking advice on the matter.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the afternoon, Hossain said, “We do not require advice from neighboring countries on how elections in Bangladesh should be conducted. We are moving toward a fair and transparent election, and at this stage, there is no need for any advisories.”

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, was summoned to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. When asked about the discussions that took place, Hossain replied, “The latest statements from India amounted to advising us, which I believe is unnecessary. We do not seek guidance from neighbors on how our elections should be run.”

He further added, “From day one, this government has emphasized creating an environment that allows citizens to freely exercise their right to vote—something that was not fully realized in the past 15 years. India is now giving advice on our elections, which is completely unacceptable. They were fully aware of the previous government’s close ties with them during that period, yet they did not comment on the flawed elections back then. Now, as we move toward a credible election, there is no reason for them to ‘advise’ us.”

Hossain stressed that the government is committed to holding a genuine election where people can freely cast their votes, and those votes will determine the outcome—something he said had not happened in the last 15 years.

Regarding comments from the European Union and other countries or alliances, Hossain clarified that such engagement is different. “We maintain ongoing communication with them and the Election Commission because we want them to send observers. Their remarks are not comparable to India’s directive tone.”

He concluded, “India’s recent statements present our process as unacceptable and attempt to dictate how the elections should be conducted. We cannot accept such advisories, especially since this sentiment was not expressed over the last 15 years. Why are they suddenly raising it now?”