India, Bangladesh should turn proximity into opportunity, says Pranay Verma

The envoy calls for deeper ties built on economic growth and shared aspirations

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has called for transforming the geographical closeness and interdependence between India and Bangladesh into avenues for deeper cooperation.

Delivering a talk at the National Defence College in Dhaka to the participants of the 2025 NDC course on Monday, Verma said the two nations should jointly harness their shared aspirations and economic growth to build a more collaborative future.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Indian High Commission quoted him as saying: “India and Bangladesh should work together to strengthen their interdependencies and transform their geographical proximity, growing economic capabilities, and future aspirations into new opportunities for mutually rewarding cooperation.”

Verma outlined India’s long-term strategic vision for ties with Bangladesh under New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, the “Act East” policy, the Mahasagar Doctrine, and the broader Indo-Pacific vision.

He stressed that India will continue to pursue a “stable, positive, constructive, forward-looking and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh”, built on mutual respect and sensitivity, with people on both sides as core stakeholders in this partnership.

Speaking on India’s global engagements, the envoy also touched on India's foreign policy and development agenda, which he said aims to deepen international cooperation, push for reform in global governance, and advance the interests of the Global South.

Verma also emphasised the need to strengthen regional cooperation under BIMSTEC. As two key economies of the region, India and Bangladesh, he said, are crucial drivers of integration in South and Southeast Asia through the regional grouping, which has its secretariat in Dhaka.