India concerned at Sheikh Hasina arrest

New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) Expressing concern at the recent developments in Bangladesh, India today said it was closely monitoring developments in that country and asked Dhaka to ensure that basic human rights were fully respected.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said at a press conference here that as a close and friendly neighbour, India would like to see a ''peaceful, stable and a liberal democratic'' Bangladesh and hoped that the roadmap announced by the Bangladesh Election Commission would ensure early restoration of democracy in that country.

Replying to a question on the arrest of Bangladesh opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, the spokesman said that in all such cases, it must the ensured that there is no violation of the due process as established by law and that basic individual rights are fully respected.

India was ''closely monitoring'' internal developments in Bangladesh, including arrests of high-level politicians, in Bangladesh, he added.

Mr Sarna said India had noted the 'roadmap' announced by the Bangladesh Election Commission with regard to the next Parliamentary elections to be held between October and December 2008.

''We hope this roadmap that includes re-constitution of the election commission, electoral reforms, preparation of electoral rolls, and delimitation of constituencies leads to early restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. It is our expectation that the people of Bangladesh will be able to participate in a process leading to free, fair, credible and democratic elections,'' Mr Sarna added.

UNI