India wants its relationship with Bangladesh to be constructive, positive, and mutually beneficial: Vikram Misri

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

Following the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and India in Dhaka on Monday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that his country wants a constructive, positive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. During a media conference at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, the foreign secretary stated that India also brought up issues, such as those concerning the safety and well-being of Bangladesh’s minorities.

“I expressed our concerns, including those pertaining to the safety and welfare of minorities,” Misri said, adding that both nations had the chance to talk about some recent events and problems in Bangladesh. We also talked about several unfortunate instances of attacks on diplomatic, religious, and cultural property.

According to the foreign secretary, they are currently seeking a relationship that is forward-looking. “We expect overall a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward looking and constructive direction.” According to Misri, “We continue to see in the future this relationship as people-centric and people-oriented; one that has the benefits of all people as its central motivational force.”

“It is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement we have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water and energy development cooperation, consular and cultural cooperation,” he stated. “There is no reason why this mutually-beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver the interests of both our people,” he stated. “And therefore, I have underlined India’s desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh.”

“There has obviously been contact between our leaderships since the political changes in Bangladesh in August of this year,” the foreign secretary emphasised. When the Chief Advisor took office, the Prime Minister was the first international leader to welcome him. Following their friendly phone chat, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to appear at the third Voice of the Global South Summit, which took place in August of this year. Yunus accepted the invitation.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft brought the foreign secretary to Dhaka earlier in the day for a one-day visit. Prior to the official meeting with representatives from both sides, he had one-on-one discussions with his counterpart in Bangladesh, Jashim Uddin, shortly after his arrival. Additionally, he visited Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Md. Touhid Hossain, in his office. Following the August 5 political transition in Bangladesh, this is the first high-level meeting between India and Bangladesh.