India welcomes release of ex-Bangla PM Sheikh Hasina

New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) - India on Thursday welcomed as a
"positive step" the release of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for medical treatment and hoped the caretaker government and political parties there would be able to reach a "constructive outcome" of their ongoing dialogue.
External Affairs Ministry said India expects to see "due
process of law, basic human rights and free, fair, credible elections leading to full restoration of democracy" in Bangladesh.
"We are closely following the evolving political
situation in Bangladesh," External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Navtej Sarna said while commenting on the latest developments in Bangladesh where the Awami League leader was set free for a brief period after about a year-long detention on graft charges.
Sarna said the release of the 60-year-old former Prime Minister was a "positive step" by the caretaker government.
"It remains our hope that both the caretaker government and the political parties would be able to achieve a constructive outcome from the political dialogue that is currently underway," the spokesman said.
"As a close and friendly neighbour, India remains committed to seeing a peaceful, stable, prosperous and a liberal democratic Bangladesh," Sarna said.
The military-backed government released from prison the ailing Hasina for eight weeks to undergo treatment in the US.
The interim government in emergency-ruled Bangladesh has been trying to break the political deadlock in the country and engage Hasina and another detained former Premier Khaleda Zia of BNP so as to hold the proposed elections later this year.