Amid strained ties, India, Bangladesh affirm commitment to constructive relationship

New Delhi, December 10. India and Bangladesh have affirmed their commitment to a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship during the foreign office consultations held in Dhaka.

“Today’s discussions have given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations and I appreciate the opportunity today to have a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said while addressing the media following the consultations in Dhaka on Monday.

This was the first high-level meeting between the two sides after an interim government assumed power in Bangladesh in August this year. The interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser, was installed after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power during a mass uprising against what people called her authoritarian style of governance.

However, Hasina’s ouster also saw the rise of extremist Islamist forces in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Many incidents of atrocities against minorities, especially Hindus, in the eastern neighbour have been reported since then. This had put India-Bangladesh relations under tremendous with New Delhi voicing concerns repeatedly over these developments.

As such, the foreign office consultations in Dhaka were seen as an opportunity to bring bilateral ties back to some semblance of normalcy.

“I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh,” Misri said during his address to the media. “We have always seen in the past and we continue to see in the future this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship; one that has the benefit of all the people as its central motivational force.”

He stated that this is reflected in the development projects by India that have been executed on the ground in Bangladesh and that continue to be developed.

“It is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement we have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water and energy, development cooperation, consular cooperation, and cultural cooperation,” the Foreign Secretary stated.

While expressing India’s desire to work closely with the interim government, he also conveyed New Delhi’s concerns over the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

“At the same time, we also had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities,” Misri said. “We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction.”

According to a separate statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, during the course of his daylong visit to Bangladesh, Misri also called on Chief Adviser Yunua and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain.

“During these meetings, Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,”the statement reads. “He 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.”

It further stated that, 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 (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) framework,” it stated.

According to a separate statement issued by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, Misri’s Bangladeshi counterpart Jashim Uddin emphasised that Bangladesh wishes to have constructive relations with India based on fairness, mutual respect and equity.

“He also stated that Bangladesh is committed to advancing the relationship based on a people-centric approach, where the welfare of the peoples of both countries would be ensured,” the Bangladeshi statement reads. “He emphasised that fostering trust and confidence among the people is crucial for the sustainability of the relationship. Foreign Secretary stressed that the issue of border killings undermines the spirit of friendly relations between the two neighbours and, immediate resolution of the issue would significantly contribute to building necessary trust and confidence among the people of Bangladesh.”

According to the statement, Jashim Uddin raised issues including initiation of discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996, early conclusion of the Teesta water sharing agreement and water-sharing agreements of other common rivers, removal of trade barriers imposed on Bangladesh’s goods and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities.

“Possible collaboration and cooperation to improve the flood forecasting & warning services was also discussed,” it stated.

The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary also highlighted the importance of bringing Indian visa services to normalcy to enhance the people-to-people connectivity.