Indian HR Activists
Foreign office unaware of visa denial
The foreign ministry has expressed ignorance about the denial of visas to two Indian rights activists by the deputy high commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata.
The two wanted to visit Bangladesh to gather information and meet the family members of Felani Khatun to file a public interest litigation with the Indian Supreme Court, reported BBC.
On returning from Delhi and on her way home, Felani, 15, was crossing the border illegally and was shot dead by members of Indian Border Security Force as her clothes got stuck in the barbed-wire fence at Anantapur border point in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram on January 7, 2011.
Ministry officials said they had no information about the visa applications of the rights activists. Even Foreign Minister Dipu Moni could not provide any information on the issue.
The ministry has sought information regarding the matter, the minister told a press conference yesterday. “Upon receiving any information from the mission concerned, we will share that with you ,” she added.
Regarding the murder case of Felani, the minister said they have been assured of justice by the Indian authorities and were hopeful as the case was being reviewed rejecting the verdict by a special court in the Indian state of West Bengal.
About charging former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury in the Padma bridge bribery case by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dipu Moni said the government has sought information from the Bangladesh mission concerned regarding the issue.
Despite repeated efforts, The Daily Star could not reach Abida Islam, Bangladesh deputy high commissioner in Kolkata, over the phone for her version on the denial of visas to the Indian rights activists.
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