Told Indian envoy that Bangladesh not liking Hasina giving statements from there: FS Jasim

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India does not impact the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the neighbouring country, Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin was told by his Indian counterpart Vikram Misri today (9 December).

“The Indian foreign secretary said her [Hasina] presence does not bear on our relations. They would like to engage with the government of the day,” Jasim said at a press briefing in Dhaka after holding Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) with the Indian foreign secretary.

Speaking about his discussion with the Indian officials, he said, “Bangladesh is not liking Sheikh Hasina giving statements from India. He has been asked to inform [the Indian government of] that. They took note of that.”

Stating that there is a “lack of trust”  between Bangladesh and India, Jasim said, “We have to go through this process because there is a lack of trust. Today’s meeting is the first step towards [building trust].”

He also said, “We think they are slowly accepting the rationality of our opinions. We hope the gap will decrease after today’s meeting.”

The foreign secretary also said he discussed the issue of Teesta River water sharing between the two countries.

“In the meeting, they were asked to make an agreement on the distribution of Teesta water.  Besides, they [have been asked] to inform Bangladesh of flood forecasts.”

Furthermore, Bangladesh urged India to ensure uninterrupted import and export of goods between the countries. 

The meeting also discussed importing hydropower from Nepal via India, and easing up the visa process for Bangladeshis.

No reason why this mutually-beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver: Misri

Earlier, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Dhaka in an Indian Air Force aircraft around 8:30am today.

This is the first visit of a secretary-level Indian government official since the fall of the Awami League government and the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, who has been staying in India since 5 August.

Bangladesh and India have been embroiled in a bitter war of words, with the former emphasising that relations between the two going forward will have to take the changed reality since 5 August into consideration.

Speaking after the meeting, Misri told journalists in Dhaka that India has reiterated its desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh.

“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 added.

“There is no reason why this mutually-beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver the interests of both our people,” he said.

“And therefore, I have underlined India’s desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh.”

He also said both countries had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues in Bangladesh and “I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties.” 

“Since the political changes in Bangladesh in August this year, there has been contact between our leadership. The prime minister [of India] was the first to greet the chief adviser [Muhammad Yunus] on his assumption of office,” he said at another briefing earlier.

The two of them had a very cordial telephone conversation and the chief adviser also accepted the Indian prime minister’s invitation to speak at the third Voice of the Global South Summit that was held in August this year, he said, adding that since then, the Indian external affairs minister and the Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser have also been in touch. 

They met each other on the sidelines of the UN General assembly in New York in September this year, he said, adding, “And my visit follows those interactions and is the first foreign signature level structured engagement between the two sides.”

Misri said they were now looking for a forward-moving relationship. “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.”

“Today’s discussions have allowed both of us to take stock of our relations and I appreciate the opportunity today to have had a frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors,” he said. 

The Indian foreign secretary said following a frank, constructive exchange of views, India desired a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh.