India expresses longing for continued partnership with Bangladesh
India today said it wanted to continue mutually beneficial relationship with Dhaka with its external affairs secretary Vikram Misri saying Delhi found no reason for disruption of the ties with Bangladesh’s August political change. “Since the political change in Bangladesh in August this year there were of course contacts between our leaderships,” Misri said in a media briefing after a secretary-level foreign office consultation (FOC) with his Bangladesh counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin.
He added: “The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) was the first world leader to call the Chief Adviser (of Bangladesh’s interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus) on his assumption of office. They had a very cordial telephonic discussion.” The top external affairs ministry bureaucrat said, "There is no reason why this mutually-beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver in the interest of both our peoples" adding that Delhi was keen to work closely with Bangladesh’s interim government.
"We continue to see in the future this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relation one that has the benefits of all the people as its central motivational force," he added. Misri said the relationship was reflected on a daily basis, in the development projects executed on the ground with Indian assistance and reflected in mutually-beneficial engagements in areas including trade, commerce, connectivity, water and energy.
He described his talks with Mohammad Jashim Uddin as “frank, friendly, constructive and cordial” as the FOC allowed them to “take stock of our relations and I appreciate the opportunity” while India now was looking for a forward-looking moving and “positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship” with Bangladesh. Misri, however, said they had discussed recent issues and conveyed concern, regarding issues related to the safety of minorities in Bangladesh when “I conveyed the concerns, including those related to the safety, security and welfare of the minorities".
The Indian external affairs secretary said the FOC also discussed some regrettable incidents of “attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties”, an apparent reference to the attack on Bangladesh’s Agartala mission and desecration of its national flag in Kolkata’s deputy high commission. "We expect overall 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," he said.
