Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said on Sunday (15 December) his government would allow any Bangladeshi citizens living in India to return to Bangladesh, The Times of India reported.

He added Bangladesh had asked the Indian government to provide a list of Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in India, “if any” to be repatriated.

Momen had cancelled his visit to India reportedly due to the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by the Indian parliament. However, he had cited his busy schedule as a reason to call off the tour.

Momen also stated that the two nations had “very sweet” relations and everything was normal, adding that they would not be affected.

He, however, cleared that they would only accept Bangladeshi citizens to return. “Only Bangladeshi citizens have the right to come back,” he said adding, “if anybody other than our citizens enters Bangladesh, we will send them back.”

Clearing his government’s stance on India’s NRC exercise, he said it would not affect Bangladesh as India had termed it as an internal matter.

He also tried to end the rumours on his cancelling India visit. He said his visit was going to coincide with the Martyred Intellectuals Day and Victory Day, and also the absence of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and the ministry's secretary in the country made him defer his tour.