United News of Bangladesh

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday said Bangladesh and India both are more capable, confident, connected and aspirational societies than they ever were. “We both are important stakeholders in the peace, stability and development of our shared region,” he said, in a farewell note, stressing that cooperation between the two countries is critical to address shared challenges like climate change and environmental sustainability. As the two largest economies of the region, the envoy said they both have to be the anchors for closer regional integration. “Because we are so different today from our past, I also believe that we need a new, future-oriented agenda for our engagement,” he said, noting that both Bangladesh and India have come a long way in the 55 years since Bangladesh was born. An agenda that is aligned with the new capabilities, new aspirations and new national development priorities, said the envoy, noting that an agenda that is driven by their strong cultural and economic linkages. “ And an agenda that is based on mutual interest, mutual benefit and mutual respect.” As two rapidly growing countries, he said their geographical proximity is an asset for both of the countries, not a liability and they must constantly endeavour to transform this proximity into new opportunities for both of the countries. “I am hopeful that all well-wishers of India-Bangladesh relations will come together to build upon this shared vision and its realisation. I leave Bangladesh, feeling ever more optimistic about the future of our relationship,” said the High Commissioner. The envoy said four years is a long time, but not long enough with the fondness and emotional attachment that they have developed for this country and its people. “Despite its share of ups and downs, our time in Bangladesh will remain etched in our memory as the most cherished posting for both me and my wife, simply for the incredible friendships we struck here and the warmth and affection we received from its people all across the country,” he said. The envoy said they look forward to remaining in touch with many kind-hearted, gracious friends from literally all walks of life in Bangladesh who touched their hearts so deeply. “We hope our paths will cross again, sometime, somewhere! Until then, all I want to say is — Aabaar Dekha Hobe!” “As I leave Bangladesh moving on to my next assignment as the Ambassador of India to Belgium and the European Union, there are so many thoughts that come to my mind,” he said. They stayed in Dhaka for nearly four years, longer than the usual three-year tenure. “We saw multiple transitions during this time. Each is very different from the other. Each with a new set of interlocutors. Each with its own prism for looking at relations with India. It could be challenging at times. But when I look back, it was an enriching and rewarding experience,” said the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner said his wife Manu and he will carry many indelible memories from here. “Many people touched our lives in remarkable ways, building bonds of friendship that will far outlast our diplomatic association with this country.” Working in Bangladesh, the envoy said he has realised how truly special and unique their relations are. “At one level, we are connected by shared geography, history, language and traditions. We have a cultural affinity and empathy that is difficult to find between any other two societies.” At a deeper level, he said they are emotionally connected by their shared sacrifices of 1971 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. “Ours is also a relationship of significant interdependencies and interlinkages. A prosperous Bangladesh is in India’s interest, as much as a prosperous India is in the interest of Bangladesh,” the envoy said. The High Commissioner said he is convinced that it is this reality of their societal, cultural and emotional connections, and it is this logic of interdependence and mutual benefit that will continue guiding and taking forward our relations.  

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday. The meeting was held in the afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman was present at the meeting. During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and India.

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and his wife, Manu Verma, hosted a reception at India House on Saturday to bid farewell to friends from the media amid conversations, shared memories, and music, saying these are the memories they will carry back to Brussels. Pranay Verma, who has recently been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, said Bangladesh will remain one of their most cherished postings because of the warm affection and friendship they received here. “Don’t say goodbye; let’s say, ‘See you again.’ Thank you very much for being there with us,” he said in his brief remarks. The envoy sang two songs - one in Bangla and one in Hindi - and said, “I truly hope our paths will cross again, somewhere, sometime.” Senior journalists including former Dhaka bureau chief of the Associated Press (AP) Farid Hossain, current AP Bureau Chief Julhas Alam, and members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, including its President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh, were present. Pranay Verma is likely to leave Dhaka for Brussels in the last week of this month. India has appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment recently, noting that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Pranay Verma, who previously served as India’s Ambassador to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022. Trivedi served as Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime as a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021, and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said that the cultural bonds between Bangladesh and India are ‘older and deeper’ than national boundaries, noting that two eminent singers - Adity Mohsin and Srikanta Acharya - from both sides of the border were brought together on one stage. “Their presence here is symbolic of the cultural continuum that unites us - in a shared musical and literary tradition that continues to flourish on both sides of the border. Cultural exchanges such as this are not merely artistic engagements; they are bridges of understanding. They foster dialogue, build trust, and bring our people closer,” said the Indian envoy. He made the remarks while speaking at a musical evening on Saturday. The celebration featured the noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent from Bangladesh Adity Mohsin, joined by acclaimed Bengali singer from India Srikanta Acharya in a melody-filled rendition of the shared heritage of music, festivity and culture between the two countries. The High Commission of India in Dhaka hosted a two-day musical evening on April 17 and 18 titled “Badhon Ache Praane Praane: Of Harmony Within” at the IGCC premises to mark the Pohela Boishakh and Bengali New Year. The event was partnered by HSBC Bangladesh as public-private collaboration in promoting heritage and creativity.  

Indian High Commisioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday reiterated India’s willingness to work with the government and the people of Bangladesh to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains based on mutual interest and benefit. He paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and discussed issues of mutual interest. They discussed wide-ranging cooperation in information and broadcasting domain including engagements between media and broadcasting institutions of the two countries.  They agreed to enhance exchange visits of media delegations between the two countries to strengthen people-to-people relations and promote mutual understanding. The High Commissioner proposed various capacity building initiatives for journalists and media professionals under ITEC programme of Government of India. As part of these initiatives, a special training course for women journalists from Bangladesh will soon be organised in India. They also exchanged views on cooperation in films, including organization of film screening and film festivals in each other’s country, as well as collaboration in production and post-production technological support.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has underlined the deep cultural affinity between the two countries  as a source of strength for their relationship. The High Commission of India and IGCC celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as the “ICCR Day” on Friday on the IGCC premises in Gulshan, to mark the enduring cultural partnership between Bangladesh and India. Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner highlighted the role of ICCR in fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue between the two countries. He described ICCR as the ‘cultural heartbeat’ of Indian diplomacy, fostering cultural dialogues transcending borders. The event included an art camp by ICCR alumni and senior artists of Bangladesh and a special cultural programme with musical, dance and yoga performances by IGCC students and ICCR alumni from Bangladesh. Acclaimed singer and ICCR scholar Priyanka Gope of Dhaka University presented a special performance of Rabindra Sangeet and classical songs. Marking the occasion, the High Commissioner also inaugurated a two-day art camp — “Sampriti” —  hosted by IGCC, which brought together over thirty celebrated artists and ICCR scholars from Bangladesh including luminaries like Farida Zaman, Jamal Ahmed, Md. Eunus, Nissar Hossain and Ranjit Das. The art works created by them during the camp will be displayed publicly at a two-week art exhibition at IGCC scheduled to be inaugurated on April 30, said the High Commission on Saturday. During the event, the High Commissioner also paid heartfelt tributes to senior artist and ICCR scholar from Bangladesh, Tarun Ghosh, who had accepted the invitation to join the art camp Sampriti, but tragically passed away on April 9.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Saturday said Bangladesh and India share a rich history and a profound cultural connection, noting that the indelible memory of their shared sacrifices during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 continues to unite the peoples of the two countries. “Today, as two vibrant and forward-looking societies, we stand at the threshold of a promising future - the one in which we can work together, to bring shared prosperity, not only to our two countries, but also to the wider region,” he said while speaking at an Iftar hosted by the High Commission of India at a city hotel. Indian envoy meets PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, discusses bilateral issues, regional stability The High Commissioner said India has always supported - and will continue to support - a ‘democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive’ Bangladesh. Ministers, political leaders from both from the ruling party and opposition leaders, editors, civil society members and celebrities were present at the event. “Your esteemed presence at this Iftar gathering today, is a meaningful reaffirmation of our shared commitment to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our peoples,” said the High Commissioner. Bangladesh, India agree to work towards boosting bilateral trade The envoy said the holy month of Ramadan is a deeply special time of the year, and they are honored to extend their warm greetings to all on this blessed occasion. “Iftar is a moment of reflection. It is a time to express gratitude, to remember those around us, and to think about the well-being of humanity as a whole. It is also a moment when people come together, to appreciate and celebrate the many blessings in life,” said the High Commissioner. He said this sacred month reminds them of the enduring values that lie at the heart of their faiths, and cultures - the values like compassion, empathy, generosity, and kindness. “As we gather here today, we are reminded of the strong bonds of friendship, as well as the deep societal and familial ties between India and Bangladesh, which make our relationship truly people-centric,” High Commissioner Verma said. He extended his warmest wishes to all across Bangladesh, who are observing the holy month of Ramadan. “May this blessed month bring you and your families good health, peace, prosperity, and happiness. May this holy month renew and reinforce our shared values of empathy, compassion, and inclusivity. May this blessed month also remind us that, above all, we are united by our common humanity,” said the High Commissioner. “May this sacred month strengthen our collective resolve to stand together in friendship and solidarity,” he added.

Bangladesh and India have agreed to work towards expanding bilateral trade, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said on Monday. “Trade between the two countries has faced various obstacles due to some mutual decisions. Both sides have drawn each other’s attention to reviewing decisions such as the closure of several Indian land ports, border haats and the cancellation of trans-shipment facilities,” he said. The commerce adviser made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The minister said the high commissioner primarily came as part of a courtesy call to welcome the new government but discussions also covered various aspects of increasing trade between the two countries. Talks included the reopening of some closed land ports, he added. Muktadir said Bangladesh also drew India’s attention to existing restrictions on the export of some products while the Indian side mentioned restarting closed border haats. “There are, in fact, some mutual barriers created by both countries and it is true that these have affected trade relations,” he said the high commissioner would discuss the issues at higher levels in his country while Bangladesh would also raise the matters in the cabinet. Replying to a question, Muktadir said there was no discussion on the future of Indian-funded projects. Asked about the possibility of fuel and food shortages if the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to the Iran war, the minister said shipping costs would rise in that case. “There is no need for immediate concern as the situation could be resolved within a couple of days. If not, the government would take alternative measures and there is currently no shortage of goods in the country, he said.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Sunday indicated Bangladesh’s intent to build a ‘forward-looking and balanced partnership’ with India based on mutual interest for the benefit of the people of the two countries. Both sides agreed to maintain a regular and constructive engagement to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, who met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, extended to Dr Khalilur Rahman an invitation from Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to undertake an official visit to New Delhi at an early date. Talking to reporters at the Ministry, the Indian envoy said they look forward to working together with Bangladesh in a forward-looking manner to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains. "So, I think, of course, people-to-people exchanges are a very important part of our bilateral relations," he said, noting that they really hope to take forward things working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner. During the meeting, the High Commissioner reiterated their position that they look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh. "We want to strengthen our people's centric cooperation in all domains, working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner. And based on our mutual benefit and mutual interest," he said. "So that was the conversation that we had and we really look forward to it," said the High Commissioner.

India on Saturday reaffirmed the value of its long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and wished the people of Bangladesh peace, prosperity and success on their journey ahead. "We have and will continue to support a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh," said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma while commemorating India’s Republic Day in the evening.  Moving forward, the High Commissioner said successes achieved across diverse areas inspire them to seek even more forward-looking and future-ready collaborations. Energy Adviser Md Fauzul Kabir Khan spoke at the reception held at a city hotel attended by political leaders, senior government officials, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, civil society members, cultural activists, among others.  Today, the High Commissioner said, as two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, powered by young, skilled, and innovative populations, Bangladesh and India are capable of becoming catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, enablers of each other’s future prosperity, and anchors for robust regional integration. "Together, we can build regional value chains, shared digital ecosystems, and energy corridors that serve both our economies," he said. Together, the High Commissioner said, they can ensure that the region’s energy future is clean, affordable and secure. He said the two countries can work to address shared challenges of environmental sustainability and climate change for our shared ecology. "In short, as forward moving societies, there is so much that we can offer to each other, and to our region, when we work together, transforming our geographical proximity into new opportunities," said the High Commissioner. Collaborations that are anchored in their shared aspirations for prosperity, progress, and partnership, he said. "Partnership that is rooted in trust. Partnership that is driven by innovation and technology; and a partnership that is nurtured and sustained by mutual interest, mutual benefit and mutual sensitivity," said the High Commissioner. On 26 January 1950, the people of a newly-independent India gave themselves a new Constitution; declared their country a sovereign republic; and committed themselves to the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and dignity for all. In the 76 years since then, India has moved from being an impoverished nation to become the largest democracy and one of the largest economies in the world, a modern, confident nation that is today contributing to global progress and offering solutions to global challenges. "Bangladesh has been an important co-traveler in this journey of ours. We share a special relationship, along with an indelible history of shared sacrifices during Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971," Pranay Verma said. He said their shared love for literature, music, and art defines the Dhaka-Delhi ties. "From Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose works connect our cultures and literatures, to the rich traditions of dance, theater, and cinema – people of our two nations share a deep cultural affinity," said the High Commissioner. Over the years, he said their mutual exchanges and shared interdependence have been reinforced by a rapidly transforming landscape of connectivity and economic engagement, bringing their societies, people and businesses closer together. A cross-border pipeline carrying high-speed diesel from an Indian refinery to Bangladesh; the cross-border power transmission lines, bringing power from both India and Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid –are some examples of how the two countries have, together, laid the foundations of energy connectivity leading to regional economic integration in a true sense, said the Indian envoy. "Our supply chains fuel Bangladesh’s prolific RMG and pharmaceutical sectors, proving the merits of mutual cooperation and interdependence," the High Commissioner said. He said there are numerous such examples of how the partnership has brought benefits to the people and businesses on both sides.