New Delhi: Bangladesh’s state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Wednesday (June 3) that Dhaka will not respond to statements made by a defeated opposition politician in another country, referring to former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) head Mamata Banerjee. Further, she mentioned that Bangladesh is working directly with the Indian government through diplomatic channels to bring back suspects held in the country for the killing of activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi.“An election has taken place in another country, and a political leader has made certain remarks. That is not our matter to discuss,” Obaed Islam told reporters.Without naming Hadi, Banerjee on Tuesday alleged at a political event in Kolkata that Union home minister Amit Shah had pressured her not to disclose the identities of individuals linked to the murder of a Bangladeshi political activist. The former chief minister also claimed to know the identities of those behind the killing but stopped short of naming them, saying disclosure could trigger turmoil in Bangladesh.On the murder case, the minister said that both Bangladesh’s home ministry and foreign ministry were actively working on the issue, and that meaningful progress had already been made.“We want justice for Hadi’s murder. Efforts are underway, and we expect those arrested in India to be returned to Bangladesh so that the legal process can proceed here,” she said.Hadi, the slain spokesperson of Bangladesh’s Inquilab Mancha, had emerged as a key figure in the July-August 2024 uprising in Bangladesh that had eventually led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. He was shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12 and succumbed to injuries after six days in Singapore. His death had triggered widespread unrest across the country. Two suspects linked to his murder are believed to be in Indian custody, and Dhaka has been pressing for their extradition.