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India is committed to maintaining a "positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship" with Bangladesh, says Vikram Misri
Published : 09 Dec 2024, 05:32 PM
Delhi is committed to maintaining a "positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship" with Dhaka in the future, as it has in the past, according to Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Speaking after a meeting with Bangladesh's foreign advisor on Monday, Misri stressed the importance of a 'people-centric partnership' between the neighbours for the benefit of both nations.
The core of this relationship is the well-being of the people in both countries, which is evident in the development projects carried out in Bangladesh and will continue to be reflected in the future, he said.
The connection is also demonstrated through "mutually beneficial engagements" in various sectors, including trade, business, connectivity, energy, water resources, development cooperation, consular services, and cultural exchange, according to him.
Misri said he stressed India's willingness to work closely with Bangladesh's interim government, which is in the best interests of both nations.
He also voiced concerns to the interim government about attacks on minorities and cultural, religious, and diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh.
Without citing specific incidents, Misri said he was hopeful that the Bangladeshi authorities would take a constructive approach to Delhi's concerns and expressed optimism about fostering ties in a positive, progressive, and constructive manner.
He did not address questions from the media following his remarks.
Misri arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day to attend a Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) meeting amid frosty bilateral relations.
The Indian foreign secretary was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus during his visit.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Aug 5 in the face of a student-led mass movement. The two countries have also made conflicting statements on the persecution of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
After 15 and a half years in power, Awami League President Hasina fled the country and took refuge in India. The Indian government has said that it will provide asylum to the former prime minister on short notice, but has not said anything about her 'status'.
More than 200 cases have been filed against Hasina since her ousting. Like their party chief, many Awami League leaders are also on the run or in hiding.
The International Crimes Tribunal has also begun trying cases against Hasina and many others in her administration over charges of ‘genocide’ during the mass killings in July and August.
The interim government, led by Yunus, has also said that it is not satisfied with India's stance on the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The government has been accusing the Indian media of presenting 'concocted', 'exaggerated' and 'distorted' information about the persecution of minorities in the country since Aug 5.
The two countries have also issued counter-statements after the arrest and imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu priest and leader in the minority community, in a case over sedition.
There have been widespread protests in India, especially in states bordering Bangladesh, in protest against the arrest and imprisonment of Chinmoy. One such protest on Dec 2 resulted in an attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Tripura’s Agartala.
The attack, carried out under the banner of a right-wing organisation called the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti, involved vandalism at the Bangladesh mission and the desecration of the country’s flag.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement calling the incident "deeply regrettable". However, the Bangladesh government said that the attack was "premeditated" and claimed the police did not take active security measures at the time of the incident.
There have been widespread protests in Bangladesh over the attack on the Bangladesh mission. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Tuesday and formally handed over a letter of protest.
The FOC is a platform for regular discussions at the Foreign Secretary level to review various aspects of bilateral relations. The last FOC was held in Delhi in November 2023, so the upcoming meeting is being held in Dhaka.
