April 15 Indian Federal Interior Minister Amit Shah has called neighboring Bangladesh “poor” and disputed his remarks, Russian satellite news agency reported Thursday. Bangladeshi officials strongly objected, saying Shah’s false statements “hurt” Bangladesh’s feelings.
13, Shah said in an interview, Bangladesh’s poor people are still crossing the river into India to find work, “The poor people of Bangladesh are still starving, to cross the border.”
His comments came under fire from Chowdhury, an adviser to Bangladesh’s prime minister. Mr Chowdhury said Prime Minister Narenot Modi had also visited Bangladesh last month and that Mr Shah’s comments “absolutely hurt our feelings” and could damage relations.
“Shah should not have made such a statement, which could affect the ties between the people of the two countries.” Mr Chowdhury said Mr Shah’s description of Bangladesh’s economic situation was wrong and that “what he says in Indian politics has nothing to do with us, but please don’t relate to Bangladesh any more”.
He also points out that Bangladesh is better off than India in the 2020 Global Hunger Index. According to the data, Bangladesh ranks 75th in the ranking, while India ranks 94th.
In addition to Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Moomin, also accused Shah’s comments of being “completely unacceptable” and said his knowledge of Bangladesh was limited.
An op-ed in the Dhaka Tribune, a Bangladeshi media outlet, added: “Shah has long made hateful and insulting statements against Bangladesh. From time to time, he insults Bangladeshis and calls them termites.
