Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Ongoing speculation surrounding President Mohammed Shahabuddin's alleged "second home," is a sensitive issue and it is a subject of appropriate authorities to investigate, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today.
Speaking at a press briefing at his ministry, Mr Hossain clarified that the foreign ministry has no direct role in the matter, as it cannot act based on speculation.
The controversy surrounding President Shahabuddin intensified yesterday after photos and documents suggesting his dual citizenship in both the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia began circulating widely on social media.
The viral spread of these materials has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for a formal investigation into the president’s citizenship status.
"This is a sensitive matter involving the president, and the proper authorities will look into it," Mr. Hossain stated.
He further noted that while the foreign ministry may be involved, it would only happen at a later stage if necessary, different media reported.
"I don’t want to comment further as it’s not within my responsibilities," he added.
Referring to the legal aspects of the issue, he also added that the issue is president's own affairs,
Addressing other diplomatic concerns, Mr Hossain also touched on the troubling issue of Bangladeshi minors being killed by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) at the border.
He warned saying, "Such killings can have a negative impact on the bilateral relations between the two countries."
On September 1, a 16-year-old girl was gunned down allegedly by the members of BSF in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar.
The killing occurred when class-eight-school-girl Swarna Das along with her mother had attempted to cross the Lalarchak border with India at night to visit her eldest brother, who has been living in Tripura.
After 45 hours of the killing, the BSF members returned the body of the Bangladeshi school girl.
Meanwhile, another 15-year-old Bangladeshi minor boy identified as Sri Jayant Lahiri, was killed by the Indian Border Security Force) at Dhantala border in Thakurgaon's Baliadangi early today.
The killing of Jayant has reignited concerns over the growing number of deaths along the Bangladesh-India border.
The BSF members also took away the body of Jayant like Swarna Das.
Over the past decade, nearly 1,000 people—mostly Bangladeshi nationals—have been killed by the BSF, according to media reports.
On September 05, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladeshhas lodged a formal protest to the Government of India on the killing of Shwarna Das.
In the protest note sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh strongly protested and condemned such ruthless acts and expressed deep concern over the incidents.
Bangladeshi government reminded that such incidents of border killing are undesirable and unwarranted.
This type of action is a violation of the Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975.
BBN/AN/AD