India’s remarks on Bangladesh’s internal affairs ‘inappropriate’: Dhaka

Foreign Secretary Jashim urges the neighbouring country to play a proactive role in stopping negative propaganda about Bangladesh to rebuild mutual trust

Bangladesh has conveyed to visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri that comments on the country’s internal matters, such as minority rights and religious freedom, are "inappropriate."

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin emphasised Bangladesh's position during talks with his Indian counterpart as part of the Foreign Office Consultation, or FOC, held in Dhaka on Sunday evening.

Jashim also urged India to play a proactive role in stopping negative propaganda about Bangladesh to rebuild mutual trust.

"Bangladesh ensures freedom of religion for all, regardless of faith or community," he said, adding that there is "no scope for confusion or misinformation on this issue."

The foreign secretary highlighted ongoing misinformation in both local and international media regarding the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, particularly following the July-August revolution and its aftermath.

He called for corrective measures from India to address this.

"We told the Indian government that this is an internal matter, and comments from another country are not appropriate," he said.

"Bangladesh refrains from commenting on other nations' internal issues and expects similar respect in return."

Jashim also mentioned the interim government’s invitation to foreign journalists to visit Bangladesh and observe the ground realities for themselves.

The high-level meeting marked the first since India raised concerns over alleged minority repression following a change in government in Bangladesh earlier this year.

The previous FOC was held in New Delhi in November 2023.

The discussions with Misri also covered unresolved bilateral issues, where Bangladesh sought India's cooperation for swift resolutions.

"As the closest neighbour, we emphasised the importance of resolving all pending matters promptly and working together towards shared goals," Jashim said.

He underscored the need to rebuild trust between the two nations and reiterated Bangladesh’s expectations for India to curb negative narratives about the country.