New Delhi: India has said it wants a good and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh, even though tensions between the two countries have led to the postponement of a planned consular dialogue.
The next round of the India-Bangladesh consular dialogue was scheduled for next week but has been delayed. India said the meeting will now be held on a date that both countries agree on.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India desires a positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh.”
He said India and Bangladesh have continued to work together through existing mechanisms on issues such as trade, railways, water resources and border management.
“Accordingly, initiatives have been taken and meetings held under our structured mechanisms in such areas as trade, railways, water resources and border management, among others,” he said.
Jaiswal said the postponed consular dialogue will also discuss matters related to the revised travel arrangement between the two countries.
“The next round of the consular dialogue, which will also take up matters relating to the revised travel arrangement, will be held on a mutually convenient date,” he said.
He added that India is ready to discuss all issues with Bangladesh through the existing channels, including technical-level talks.
“India remains ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through these existing mechanisms, including at the technical level,” he said.
Ties between the two countries have become tense after former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina took part in a virtual media interaction from New Delhi on August 5. Bangladesh later again asked India to extradite her, as reported by The New Indian Express.
India said it did not organise the event and did not support Hasina’s remarks.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry reacted strongly and said it was “outraged” that the event was allowed to take place, despite Dhaka having told New Delhi about its concerns over the possible impact on bilateral relations.
Hasina, 78, was removed from power in August 2024 after violent student-led protests. She fled Dhaka on August 5 that year and has been living in India since then.
India had also invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit and to attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September. However, Rahman did not attend the summit, and it is not clear whether he will visit India soon.
When asked about Bangladesh’s demand to extradite Hasina, Jaiswal said it is a legal matter and will be handled accordingly.
“It is a legal matter and will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
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