Tarique, Verma discusses Bangladesh-India relations, ‘challenges’

Relations with India, existing “challenges” and ways to address them have featured in discussions between BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma.

The meeting was held on Saturday afternoon at the BNP chairman’s office in Gulshan, according to party leaders.

BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir later said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a condolence message addressed to Tarique, which was conveyed during the meeting.

“In that letter, Prime Minister Modi said that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, a ‘new horizon’ and a ‘new phase of relations’ could emerge,” Humayun said.

He added that the BNP viewed the meeting positively. “We hope the discussions were good. There are certainly different challenges in taking bilateral relations forward, and we discussed how to overcome those challenges and move ahead,” he said.

Humayun said the BNP chief’s policy outlook emphasised peace and security in the region. “All these issues were discussed, though not in detail, as this was a courtesy call.”

The engagement with the Indian envoy followed a series of diplomatic meetings. 

On Friday, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Dhaka Imran Haider met with Tarique. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission and Member of the European Parliament Ivars Ījabs also held talks with him.

Later in the evening, Egyptian Ambassador Omar Mohie Eldin Ahmed Fahmy and Turkish Ambassador Ramis Sen held separate discussions with Tarique.

Following the meetings, Humayun said the visiting envoys had conveyed condolences on behalf of their governments over the death of Khaleda Zia. 

He added that bilateral issues were discussed in a cordial atmosphere, including Tarique’s plans if the party were to form a government and the outlines of its international and bilateral policy approach.