The foreign ministry says it had notified organisers Observer Research Foundation that he would not participate as he had already been scheduled to accompany Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her UAE visit. “It may be noted that there was no bilateral engagement scheduled during the visit. Amid violent protests in India over the citizenship law last month, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had cancelled their visits to the country. Momen cited a “busy schedule” ahead of the Dec 16 Victory Day as the reason behind the decision while an official at Khan’s ministry said he would visit India at a “suitable time” later. The two ministers had cancelled the visits due to “state engagements” and it should not be construed as “a boycott”, the ruling Awami League said.

Source: bd News24 January 11, 2020 13:07 UTC