Shringla meets BNP chief Khaelda for first time as Indian High Commissioner

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met with BNP Chairperson Khaelda Zia for the first time.

He called on the former prime minister at her Gulshan office in Dhaka around 8pm on Tuesday.
 
Deputy High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika, First Secretary (Political and Information) Rajesh Uike and Second Secretary (Political and Visa) Manusmriti accompanied him.
 
This is the first meeting between them since Shringla took charge in January.
 
The last time they met was in December 2013 when the then Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh called on Khaleda during a visit.
 
BNP leaders said Shringla and Khaleda discussed Bangladesh situation, economy and bilateral matters during the meeting that lasted one and a half hours.
 
After the meeting, the BNP chief’s Adviser Sabih Uddin Ahmed told reporters that the Indian envoy had met Khaleda after arriving in Bangladesh several days ago.
 
“They discussed many bilateral issues. This is entirely a courtesy call,” Ahmed said when asked whether they talked about the political situation or terrorism.

The Indian high commission in a media statement said Shringla informed the BNP chief of recent developments in bilateral cooperation.
 
He ‘highlighted the focus on development of infrastructure and improving connectivity to facilitate bilateral trade and economic ties, with, more people-to-people contacts’.
 
The high commissioner also conveyed to her that India stands firmly with Bangladesh in its fight against terrorism.
 
“India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and there can be no justification for senseless acts of violence,” the statement quoted Shringla as saying.
 
Apart from Sabih Uddin, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and National Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury were also present in the meeting.