Citizenship law and NRC India's internal issues: Bangladesh

Dhaka: While voicing concern that any "uncertainty" in the country is likely to affect its neighbours, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said that the CAA and the NRC are India's "internal issues.".

Amid raging protests over the controversial citizenship law across India, Momen hoped that the situation "cools down" and the neighbouring country "can get out of it".

"The CAB (now Citizenship Amendment Act) and the NRC (National Register of Citizens) are internal issues of India. Indian government assured us again and again that these are their domestic issues, they are doing it because of legal and other reasons," Momen said when asked about the CAA and the protests against it, especially in the northeastern states. PM Narendra Modi while talking to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had assured that under no circumstances it will affect Bangladesh, Momen said. The minister asserted that his country trusts India. However, he said, "We are the No.1 friend of India. So, if there is uncertainty in India, it is likely to affect its neighbours. When there was an economic downturn in the US, it affected many countries because we live in a global world. So our fear is that if there is some uncertainty in India, it might affect its neighbours".

"That is worrisome. We hope the

situation cools down and India can get out of it...It is their internal issue. It is not our issue. They should deal with it," he said.