Good ties will create a ‘win-win’ situation for both countries, says Indian envoy Trivedi

India and Bangladesh may have contentious issues due to their shared history and geographical proximity, but resolving those issues is necessary for the benefit of both countries, says Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi. 

He made the remarks on Monday after paying courtesy calls on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat.

The high commissioner said, “As I mentioned before, the people of India and the prime minister of India are waiting. We are very positive that when the two leaders sit together and have discussions... In a democracy, there will always be issues. If there are no issues, it is not democracy.”

“There will be our issues, there will be Bangladesh’s issues. But the people have one issue, and that is good relations. And if there are good relations, it is a win-win situation. 

He said the two countries’ shared history and geography could not be changed, making it necessary to resolve differences through dialogue.

“I always say that we do not just share a border, we also share dreams. We share dreams, don’t we?

“I feel the days ahead will be very good. The issues have to be sorted out, from both sides. I am very confident. It was very good to meet him [Tarique].”

Trivedi said, “I can say this confidently: there is no issue that we cannot sit down and resolve.”

Asked about recent strains in relations, Trivedi said disagreements did not mean problems could not be resolved.

“If there are no issues, there will be no democracy,” he said, comparing bilateral differences to disagreements within families. “There is no issue that we cannot sit down and resolve.”

He described closer ties as a “win-win situation” for both countries, saying ordinary people on both sides of the border wanted good relations.

After his first courtesy meeting with the prime minister, Trivedi went to the Secretariat to meet the home minister, where he spoke to reporters.

Trivedi also offered some insight into the assignment given to him by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he sent him to Dhaka as high commissioner.

Speaking on the matter without being asked, he said: “When I came here... my prime minister told me that it is particularly important to have good relations.  (Or else) why did I come here?”

Trivedi said he viewed the meeting as one between representatives of the people rather than diplomats.

“I am not a diplomat. This is a meeting between a representative of the people with another representative of the people,” he said.

“And I am very happy that I met him [Tarique]. As soon as we met, I did not feel that I was meeting him for the first time. He is very good, very humble, on the ground.”