Dhaka, Dec. 20: India was concerned over the jailing of Bangladesh leaders Ms Sheikh Hasina and Ms Khaleda Zia by a caretaker government that ruled during 2007-08, reveals a US cable.
A meeting held in New Delhi between an official in India foreign ministry official and British and American diplomats expressed reservations about the development. The caretaker government of the chief ad-viser, Mr Fakhruddin Ah-med, had imprisoned the two and reportedly pressured Ms Zia to be exiled to Saudi Arabia with her family in a “deal” from which Ms Zia backed out. Around the same time, Ms Hasina was allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. At the April 27, 2007 meeting in Delhi, the Indian official, Mr Mohan Kumar, said Bangladesh had reached “a crossroad by allowing Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to return”, stating such a move weakens the government.