Sheikh Hasina at diplomatic best while answering on Ulfa leaders

Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was today at her diplomatic best when faced with a question of the return to India of Ulfa fugitives, including Arabinda Rajkhowa, who had taken shelter in her country.

Asked by a senior Indian editor at an interaction here about what was Indian leaders' reaction during talks on Bangladesh "releasing" Ulfa leaders, she appeared to feign ignorance.

"You people have been reading newspapers. You know it better," she said with a smile. Hasina also referred the question to a senior Bangladesh editor who came to her rescue saying the Bangladeshi newspapers were only reporting what the Indian media had been saying that Bangladesh government had handed over the Ulfa leaders to Indian security agencies.

The editor also said that one good thing was the Bangladesh media has not attacked the government on the issue.