Dhaka/New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday reiterated India’s willingness to build a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh, based on mutual trust and respect and mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns and interests, during his meetings with the leadership of the army-backed Bangladesh Interim Government.
FS Misri, who was in Dhaka on a day-long visit for the Foreign Office Consultations, called on Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain. He earlier held the FOC with his Bangladeshi counterpart Jashim Uddin.
During these meetings, Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary emphasized that people are the main stakeholders in India-Bangladesh relations, and noted that India’s development cooperation and multifaceted engagements with Bangladesh, including in the areas of connectivity, trade, power, energy and capacity building, are all geared towards the benefit of the people of Bangladesh, a statement said.
Referring to the attacks on Hindus and other minorities and on temples and properties of Hindus, Foreign Secretary Misri “also discussed certain recent developments and issues and conveyed India’s concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. He also raised some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties”.
During the Foreign Office Consultations, both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering political and security matters, border management, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, development cooperation, consular, cultural and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional and multilateral issues, and agreed to enhance consultations and cooperation to advance regional integration, including under the BIMSTEC framework.
Foreign Secretary’s visit will help in sustaining bilateral engagement between India and Bangladesh with a view to addressing concerns as well as advancing the substantive issues in the relationship, the statement added.
In the morning, FS Misri landed in Dhaka on an Indian air force plane before 8:30 am and was received by director general (South Asia) of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Ishrat Jahan.
His visit is the first high-level one from India after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.
The FOC talks began at 12:45pm.
On Sunday, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain expressed optimism that Bangladesh and India would be able to overcome the kind of stalemate that the two neighbouring countries have witnessed over the last couple of months.
“We expect that we will be able to overcome this impasse. Establishing mutual communication and meeting each other are very important to overcome any such stalemate,” he said.
Speaking at a seminar at the Jatiya Press Club, Hossain said it is also important to note that the relations between Bangladesh and India witnessed changes after August 5 and both sides need to try and take forward the relations accepting this changed reality.
UNI RN