Former Indian envoy Pankaj Saran says'India is not ‘exporting’ democracy to other countries'

Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran on Monday said it is the people of Bangladesh and the country's institutions who can decide how the election should be held, noting that no one has the right to issue any judgment on how the election should be held.

"Elections are important for every country. Every country has its method and system. You have everything. It is a decision to be taken by the people, otherwise what is the meaning or concept of independence and sovereign nation," he said while responding to a question at a function.

The former Indian diplomat said it is for the people to decide who they should elect and it is for the institutions to decide how the election will be held. "We wish you all the best in this endeavour," he said.

The daily Bhorer Kagoj hosted the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Memorial Lecture-2023 on "Bangladesh-India Relations: Role Model of Relations" at a hotel in Dhaka.

Pankaj said the Indian wishes that the election process goes as per the wish of the people, and it goes peacefully so that it does not lead to instability.

He said India is also a big democratic country but is not exporting democracy to other countries.

He said what's important is that the people of Bangladesh realize the best way forward when it comes to elections.

"You have your institutions. Do the best that you can. Believe in yourself and accept whatever results come out of elections. I do not think it is for any country in the world, including India, to talk about how elections should be conducted either in Bangladesh or any other country," he said.

Former Ambassador Tariq Karim also spoke at the event moderated by Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta.

Highlighting the milestones the two countries achieved together over the last 15 years, Pankaj Saran said there will always be an "unfinished agenda" in any relationship including that between Bangladesh and India. 
 
The former envoy mentioned four reasons behind describing the relation as a success and said there had been political will on both sides. "Political will is an essential condition for success."

He also said there is peace on the border with significantly less number of criminal activities and security concerns are addressed.

Looking ahead, Pankaj said the two countries need to work in several areas including poverty alleviation, more employment creation, reducing trade imbalance, addressing climate challenges, opportunities to explore the blue economy and border management. "We have to deal with issues directly."

He said the two countries have a problem of illegal migration and both sides should be talking about it candidly.

Pankaj said both sides should have stakeholders for a broad-based relationship and people have to be the beneficiaries.  

Tariq Karim emphasized working together to address the pending issues and said there is scope to work on the climate front apart from addressing the issues of the common rivers. "There are still some problems. We have to address them." 

He said what happens in India affects Bangladesh and what happens in Bangladesh will affect India.