Dhaka-Delhi
Dhaka reacts to Delhi’s remarks on Dhanmondi-32 demolition as 'unexpected'
Bangladesh on Sunday reacted to India's remarks over the demolition of historic Dhanmondi-32 residence and described those remarks from India as "unexpected and undesirable."
This statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on the internal affairs of Bangladesh is "unexpected and undesirable", said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam while responding to a question.
He said they have seen various adverse situations in the neighbouring country but Bangladesh does not officially make any statement on the internal affairs of any state.
The Spokesperson said Bangladesh also expresses the same expectation from others.
"As you know, the former Prime Minister has been making political statements at various times while staying in India, which is not being received well by the people of Bangladesh," Rafiqul Alam said.
He mentioned that the interim government has already made its position clear on the situation that arose at Dhanmondi 32 based on her statement on February 5.
Earlier, India said the act of vandalism at the historic residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be "strongly condemned.”
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"It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5," said Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday.
All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh, he said.
Terming the vandalism at Dhanmondi-32 residence unfortunate and unexpected, the interim government said it was manifestation of people’s anger incited by the "provocative remarks" made by fugitive Sheikh Hasina from India against the July uprising.
The interim government, in a statement on Thursday, urged India to ensure that its territory is not used to promote instability in Bangladesh and prevent Sheikh Hasina from issuing further remarks.
3 days ago
Bangladesh issues may feature in Modi-Trump talks, hints India
India has hinted that Bangladesh issues may come up for discussions during the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the context of regional situation.
"There will be discussions on the regional and international situation. I would imagine this might be one of the issues that will come up," said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri while responding to a question during a media briefing in New Delhi on Friday.
Describing recent incidents in Bangladesh, including vandalism of historic Dhanmondi-32 residence, the journalist wanted to know whether Prime Minister Modi is likely to discuss Bangladesh when he meets President Trump.
In reply, the Indian Foreign Secretary said, "As to whether the issue will come up in discussions in Washington, D.C., I can't prejudge right now."
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Prime Minister Modi will visit the United States at the invitation of the President of the United States of America.
He will pay an official working visit to the United States on 12th and 13th of February, said the Indian Foreign Secretary.
This will be the first visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States since the inauguration of the second presidential term of President Donald Trump.
The Indian Foreign Secretary referred to the statement that they have made recently with regard to the incidents relating to the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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"We would also like to point out that the safety of diplomatic premises is the responsibility of the host government and I have no doubt that the Bangladesh authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities in this regard," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Bangladesh wants to establish a relationship with India that would ensure mutual benefits and secure both nations' interest and efforts are underway to that end, said the interim government.
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4 days ago
Dhaka-Delhi Ties: The wind blows towards a positive change
After a period of growing tensions in a changed political scenario since August 5, Bangladesh and India are increasingly demonstrating their willingness to recognise the value of fostering stability, mutual trust, and cooperation in addressing shared challenges for greater prosperity on both sides.
The winds of positive change in Dhaka-Delhi relations indicate a promising turn for the two South Asian neighbours though many feared that the relations would only deteriorate further with a growing anti-India sentiment.
Recent diplomatic exchanges including the foreign secretary-level meeting have shown a commitment to sewing ties and addressing areas of discord.
On January 1, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made it clear that maintaining good relationships with three big countries - India, China and the United States- is among the priorities in 2025. He stressed that Dhaka’s ties with Delhi will advance beyond a single issue.
There are questions around on how the Bangladesh-India relations will navigate this year if Dhaka's request for returning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains unaddressed. Adviser Hossain, however, addressed such a question saying this is one of the issues and the two countries have many bilateral issues.
"I think both will continue simultaneously. We have many issues of mutual interest. We will advance with all these issues side by side," said the adviser.
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Bangladesh is expecting a reply from India regarding its request for Hasina’s extradition and was supposed to send a reminder after a certain period if no reply is received from New Delhi. India has refrained from commenting further on Hasina's extradition request.
"You know, a week back, I had confirmed that we have received a communication from the Bangladesh authorities in respect of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Further than that, I have nothing to add at this point in time," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs on January 3.
Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri, during his official visit to Bangladesh on December 9, reiterated India's willingness to build a “positive and constructive” relationship with Bangladesh based on mutual trust, respect and mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns and interests.
He also emphasized that people are the main stakeholders in Bangladesh-India relations and noted that India's development cooperation and multifaceted engagements with Bangladesh including in areas of trade, connectivity and other capacity building areas are all geared towards the benefit of the people of Bangladesh.
“So, that has been our approach. There are several developments that are happening. There are developments happening on a daily basis, but our generic approach to Bangladesh is what I told you. We would like to foster these ties,” said MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal on January 3.
India’s approach is to foster ties with Bangladesh was made very clear during the Indian foreign secretary's visit to Dhaka, where he highlighted India's support for a “democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive” Bangladesh.
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On December 31, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma welcomed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the High Commission when Dr Yunus went there to pay tributes to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away recently.
New Delhi's reaction was rather soft when on January 2 a Chattogram court rejected the bail prayer of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader, in a sedition case.
It simply voiced expectation that the individuals who have been arrested receive a fair trial and the ongoing proceedings in Bangladesh will ensure that. “This is our expectation,” says MEA Spokesperson on January 3.
Meanwhile, the reciprocal repatriation of 95 Indian fishermen or crew detained in Bangladesh and 90 Bangladeshi fishermen or crew detained in India began on Thursday. The process is expected to be completed on January 5.
After the handing over on January 5 at the International Maritime Border, the Bangladeshi fishermen or crew, along with their fishing vessels, are expected to return to Chattogram in the afternoon of January 6.
Essential commodities are coming from India to Bangladesh. In December, 2024, a consignment of 24, 690 metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice arrived at Chattogram Port from India. It was the first batch of rice imports from India since Yunus-led interim government assumed office.
1 month ago
‘Have so many things to offer each other’: Pranay Verma
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said he remains optimistic about Dhaka-Delhi relations despite changes happening around, noting that the two countries can really offer to each other something which they do not need to go elsewhere to find.
"This is how we look at the relationship. We have so many things to offer each other with our growing capabilities and rising ambitions to grow and develop," he said, reiterating that they strongly support "democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive and inclusive" Bangladesh.
He made the remarks during an interaction with diplomatic correspondents at the High Commission on Monday evening, following their participation in a two-phase training programme in New Delhi.
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Verma said they are looking at the relationship from a long term perspective much beyond a short-term outlook.
"We need to look at our relationship with mutual sensitivity - sensitivity to each other's interests, each other’s concerns and aspirations," said the High Commissioner.
High Commissioner Verma said they have a strong stake in each other’s progress and prosperity.
He said they are really willing to have a "positive, stable and constructive" relationship with Bangladesh with a forward-looking approach which is mutually beneficial.
"It has to be a mutually beneficial relationship. We also believe that people are the key stakeholders in this relationship. We strongly believe that our cooperation benefits the common people on both sides," said High Commissioner Verma.
He said any notion that things are slowed down is not correct and they are working to take forward the relations.
The High Commissioner referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, later their telephone conversation, and Modi's invitation to Prof Yunus to join the third Voice of Global South Summit hosted virtually by New Delhi on August 17.
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He also referred to the meeting between External Affairs Adviser Dr S Jaishankar and his Bangladesh counterpart Md Touhid Hossain on the sidelines of the UNGA and recently held Foreign Office Consultations at the foreign secretary-level to give a sense that things are not slowed down.
Verma said there is significant robustness in the relations and essential commodities are coming to Bangladesh from India.
He said there are still more visas than "probably all other embassies put together" in Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner laid emphasis on transforming geographical proximity to new economic opportunities.
Verma said he sincerely believes that the fundamentals of the relationship is strong enough to take them forward despite changes around that they see.
He said they are doing everything they need to do to take forward the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
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The High Commission of India organized the weeklong training programme in India for the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) and other journalists in two phases this year.
President of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) Nurul Islam Hasib and General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu were present.
Former DCAB President and Daily Sun Editor Rezaul Karim Lotus, Views Bangladesh Editor Md Mehedi Hasan Rashed and New Age Chief of Correspondents Mustafizur Rahman shared their experiences during the interactions.
1 month ago
Political clouds with India cleared for mutual benefit: Adviser Rizwana
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has highlighted the importance of clearing the political clouds that once overshadowed Bangladesh-India relations, emphasising the need for fostering a harmonious partnership between the two nations.
“The political clouds that once overshadowed our relations with India had to be cleared in the interest of both nations,” she said on Friday.
She was speaking at an awareness and driver retraining programme on noise pollution control in the capital.
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While acknowledging the historical significance of Bangladesh’s the recent mass uprising, Rizwana stressed the importance of balancing this legacy with a forward-looking approach to bilateral relations.
“We cannot deny the impact of the recent movement in our nation while building friendly ties with India,” she added.
Noise Pollution and Environmental Initiatives
In the same event, Rizwana announced that the Noise Pollution Control Act will soon be published as a gazette, reinforcing legal measures to combat noise pollution and protect public health.
“Efforts are underway to finalise the necessary steps, and the act will be published shortly,” she said.
India refrains from backing Hasina's criticism of interim government: Misri
Political Reforms
Rizwana also questioned the lack of progress in political reforms, urging political parties to take accountability for decades of stagnation.
“If political reforms cannot be achieved without the involvement of political parties, why haven’t they been implemented in the last 53 years?” she asked, calling for immediate action.
1 month ago
Relations with India will now be based on equality, justice: Adviser Asif
LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has said the government is moving away from a submissive foreign policy towards India.
Instead, the foundation of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will now be based on equality and justice, he said at the closing ceremony of a training workshop in Cumilla on Wednesday.
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Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) organized the workshop titled "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Financial Inclusion & Rural Transformation"
Saif Uddin Ahmed, director general of BRDA, chaired the closing ceremony.
"After the July Uprising, the Interim Government has moved away from a submissive foreign policy with India; the bilateral relations between the two countries will now be built on the basis of equality and justice,” said Asif.
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He also expressed strong discontent over the attack at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India’s Agartala, saying that the Interim Government had officially protested over the matter.
The adviser reiterated that national development could be achieved through financial inclusion and rural development. He lauded the event by LGRD ministry, BRDA, and the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (ARDO), encouraging more such programs and expressed his optimism that participants would use the knowledge gained to contribute to rural development.
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2 months ago
Indian Foreign Secretary arrives Monday for key talks amid strained ties
Amid strained ties and growing criticisms from both sides on post-August 5 issues, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is coming to Bangladesh on Monday to hold several meetings apart from attending the foreign secretary-level talks to address mutual concerns.
This is going to be the first visit to be made by a senior Indian government official to Bangladesh since the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, came to power in August 8.
Foreign Secretary Misri and his Bangladesh counterpart, Md Jashim Uddin, will lead their respective delegation at the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).
"The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on the 9th of December. He will meet his counterpart, and there will be several other meetings during the visit," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday.
The FOC led by the Foreign Secretaries is a structured engagement between Bangladesh-India.
"We look forward to this meeting," said the MEA Spokesperson.
Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said there are always efforts to keep all the elements of the bilateral relations on agenda. "Discussion is underway."
He, however, said there are some broad areas - trade, border management, connectivity, and water issues - and these will be discussed.
Asked about the situation on the ground in Bangladesh and the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the MEA reiterated its hope that the legal rights of the concerned individuals are respected and the trial is conducted in a "fair and transparent" manner.
"As far as the situation on the ground regarding the individuals you want to know, we want to reiterate our position again that they have legal rights and we hope that these legal rights will be respected and that the trial will be fair and transparent. They will get a fair and transparent trial," Jaiswal added.
Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is associated with the Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 on 'sedition' charges.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladesh wants good relations with India on a reciprocal basis.
“It is very clear that we want good relations, but it should be reciprocal. We need to work to that end,” he told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The FOC is likely to cover a range of bilateral issues, including the potential extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India and visa issues.
At the Foreign Ministry's weekly briefing on November 21, former Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing Toufique Hasan said, "There is a scope for discussion on the matter (extradition of Sheikh Hasina)."
Sheikh Hasina, who fled Dhaka on August 5 and has been residing in India since then, is facing a trial in Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for alleged involvement in mass killings during the July-August uprising.
While the government intends to bring her back, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet received any formal directive to initiate the extradition process.
Dhaka will engage with Delhi and begin the formal process in accordance with the existing extradition treaty once we receive the necessary instructions.
The last FOC, an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two foreign secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, was held in New Delhi on 24 November 2023.
Both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
They also exchanged views on sub, regional, regional and multilateral issues.
2 months ago
BNP's Mosharraf accuses India of trying to destabilise interim govt
Accusing India of trying to destabilise the interim government, BNP senior leader Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Friday said no country would succeed in hatching a conspiracy against the 18 crore united people of Bangladesh.
“What are India and some Hindu community members here now creating a kind of problem and defaming us all over the world, denting our image? Their only goal is to create chaos here and try to make this government fail,” he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.
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Pro-BNP student leaders of Ducsu and the All Party Students Unity (Apsu) of the 90s arranged the programme, marking the Fall of Autocracy Day.
On December 6, 1990, military dictator HM Ershad stepped down in the face of a mass upsurge and handed power over to a caretaker government, ending his nine years of autocratic rule which began with his coup on March 24, 1982.
Mosharraf, a BNP Standing Committee member, said various conspiracies are being hatched over minor issues.
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“Have the Hindu community only been living in Bangladesh for three months? They have been living here in great harmony since independence,” he said.
The BNP leader called upon all, regardless of religion or caste, to confront all conspiracies.
“Our leader Ziaur Rahman solved this problem by saying that there is no such thing as Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim here. Everyone is a citizen of Bangladesh and Bangladeshi. So, why should we create such a division here and tolerate this?” he said.
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The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly changed the government through mass uprisings. “So there is no scope to undermine the people of this country. The people will decide what their government will be and how they will run the country.”
He said the country’s people, regardless of all religions, must unite to maintain peace and move towards the development of the country.
“If our 18 crore people here are united, then no matter what country they are in, they will not be able to succeed in any conspiracy against us,” the BNP leader said.
He said the current government is committed to carrying out reforms as the previous government ruined all the state institutions.
Mosharraf urged the government to give priority to a prompt reform of the election system and come up with an election roadmap.
He said those who are conspiring against Bangladesh after the revolution of the students and the people are showing their audacity.
The BNP leader said the Awami fascists, who were forced to resign in the face of the joint movement of the students, the people, and political parties of this country, took shelter in India illegally.
“They’re conspiring from there (India). You can all feel the efforts they are making to create division among us,” Mosharraf said.
In such a situation, he said all democratic forces should stand by the interim government for the sake of the country and its people.
“BNP has been supporting this interim government… This government must hold an acceptable election to hand power over to the people,” the BNP leader said.
2 months ago
Bangladesh mission heads from Kolkata, Agartala asked to return home for consultations
Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata’s acting mission chief Sikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman has returned home and met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday as part of “consultations.”
Assistant High Commissioner in Tripura Arifur Rahman was also scheduled to return home following the recent incidents in Kolkata and Agartala, said a diplomatic source.
Tensions between Bangladesh and India grow over attack on Agartala mission
Tensions between Bangladesh and India escalated following Monday's attack by a Hindu religious group on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, Tripura, prompting the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry to summon the Indian High Commissioner for a formal protest.
Amid the evolving situation, Bangladesh authorities on Tuesday suspended all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala.
The government of Bangladesh said it "deeply resents" the "violent demonstration and attack" by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala.
Visa, consular services at Bangladesh mission in Agartala suspended
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, underlined that this "heinous attack" on a diplomatic mission of Bangladesh and desecration of the national flag of Bangladesh comes in a pattern, further to a similar violent demonstration in Kolkata on November 28, 2024.
"It is very clear that we want good relations, but it should be reciprocal. We need to work to that end," Adviser Hossain told reporters while responding to a question at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.
2 months ago
Rizvi slams Mamata for ‘harbouring Hindu nationalist ideology’
Dhaka, Dec 4 (UNB) – BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of harbouring deep-seated Hindu nationalist views, despite her public stance on secularism.
“Although Mamata publicly advocates for secularism she secretly holds extremist Hindu nationalist beliefs. She has allied herself with the communal BJP government. This alignment undermines her professed secular values,” Rizvi told a pre-procession rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.
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Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Front arranged the procession in protest against the recent attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, India.
The procession, which started from the Press Club, paraded streets up to Nayapaltan.
Accusing it pursuing a politics of hatred and divisiveness, Rizvi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to power by exploiting hardline Hindu nationalism and managed to maintain its position by promoting violence.
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Rizvi also criticised India's media for spreading anti-Bangladesh propaganda, alleging that Indian outlets, fuelled by Prime Minister Modi’s regime, continue to manufacture false narratives in order to destabilise Bangladesh.
2 months ago