Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Tuesday said Bangladesh and India need to move ahead keeping in mind the challenges that exist on both sides, stressing that remaining stuck in the past might affect development and people-to-people ties.

“We have to appreciate Bangladesh's democratic challenges, and Bangladesh also has to appreciate India's challenges. Keeping these challenges in mind, we have to move forward,” he told reporters, noting that they need to appreciate each other’s democratic challenges.

He also stressed the need for both countries to understand each other's challenges. “As neighbours, we are equal. Nobody is big, nobody is small,” he added.

The High Commissioner said the past cannot be forgotten, but there is no scope to get stuck in the past. “If we get stuck in the past, development works will not happen.”

Trivedi made the remarks while talking to reporters after a courtesy meeting with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan at the Secretariat. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mir Shahe Alam also attended the meeting.

The High Commissioner conveyed his wishes on the occasion of the 48th Founding Day of BNP. “It’s a Founding Day (of BNP), very important day. I congratulated him, his party and all.”

The discussions focused on deepening people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and India. They also discussed ways to strengthen local government structures, which is a shared priority of the two democracies.

Asked about the current state of Bangladesh-India relations and tensions surrounding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Trivedi said he is an ambassador and does not want to comment on a country's internal politics. “We should not.”

“The people of the country and its elected government with a majority will understand what is good for people. That is the truth,” he said.

Asked how he views bilateral ties as India's representative in Bangladesh, Trivedi said both sides want to strengthen people-to-people relations.

“Ultimately, whatever decisions we take have an impact on ordinary people. So it is our responsibility to ensure that whatever we decide benefits ordinary people,” he said.

“We always say that we share a dream, we share a vision,” he added.

Referring to the border between the two countries, Trivedi said the shared border increases their responsibilities as neighbours.

On trade, Trivedi said discussions were also held on promoting trade and free trade between the two countries for the benefit of their people.

“We discussed how we can have free trade between the two countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said Trivedi paid the courtesy visit to congratulate Minister Abdul Moin Khan on the founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

He said the meeting was entirely a courtesy call, although issues related to the ministry were also discussed.

Regarding local government elections, Mir Shahe Alam said the Indian envoy shared his experience of local government elections in India.

Trivedi, who had served as an Indian parliamentarian and minister, also shared his political experience, he said.

The State Minister said Bangladesh plans to hold local government elections during the current fiscal year and that ensuring free, fair and impartial polls would be a major challenge.