Dhaka ‘positive’ on PM Tarique’s Delhi visit as talks continue

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir says Bangladesh expects progress soon in discussions over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India.

He made the remarks after a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Asked about reports that Tarique could visit Delhi in November, Humaiun said he preferred to deal with facts rather than rumours.

“There are rumours going around. I cannot discuss rumours. There are many rumours. I talk about reality,” he said.

“The reality is that we had a very good meeting today and I am positive that we can get positive results in the near future.”

Humaiun acknowledged that there were challenges facing Bangladesh-India relations, but said the two sides were working to address them through talks.

He added that Tarique would visit India when conditions were conducive and relations were based on mutual respect.

Asked whether a possible visit to Dhaka by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had come up, Humaiun said there had been no such discussion.

Tarique’s proposed visit to India, however, was discussed.

“It was totally a courtesy meeting. We did discuss the visit, and we are positive about it,” Humaiun said.

On whether a possible window for the visit had emerged from the talks, Humaiun said no date had been fixed.

“The timing will come later,” he said, adding that a date would be discussed once the two sides had reached a mutual understanding.

Humaiun described his first courtesy meeting with Trivedi since taking office as “very cordial, very good and very fruitful”.

Speaking after the meeting, Trivedi said India’s invitation to Tarique remained open and there was “no need to rush” the visit.

“When the time is right, it will certainly happen,” the Indian high commissioner said, adding that the trip could take place when the prime ministers of the two countries found the timing convenient.

Earlier this month, Humaiun said discussions on Tarique’s proposed visit to India were continuing but no date had been finalised.