Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday expressed the hope that the understandings that the two border forces have will be implemented in a cooperative approach in combating the crimes along the border. He had a discussion with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on India's commitment to ensuring a crime-free border and effectively addressing the challenges. Referring to an understanding in regards to fencing the border, the High Commissioner said the two border forces- BSF and BGB - have been in communication. BGB's firm stand forces India to halt border fence construction: Home Adviser He also talked about addressing the challenges of smuggling. In a move to address escalating tensions along the Bangladesh-India border, the Indian High Commissioner had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Jashim to discuss recent border-related issues. The Indian High Commissioner was seen entering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at around 3pm on Sunday, following reports of heightened tensions along the shared border of the two neighbouring countries. He made a brief statement after the meeting that lasted over half an hour. India extends Hasina’s visa amid Bangladesh’s extradition demand Earlier in the day, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed and the Indian High Commissioner may be summoned soon to discuss the matter. "Work at all disputed points has been halted and we will not allow further activities." The India-Bangladesh border, one of the longest international borders in the world, has often been a point of contention, with incidents ranging from border security issues to the movement of people.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has described the occasion "Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day)" as a milestone and an everlasting source of inspiration guiding the Bangladesh-India relationship. The Indian High Commission organized a musical evening on December 6 at the Indian Cultural Centre to mark the 53rd anniversary of “Maitri Diwas”, the day India recognized Bangladesh as an independent, sovereign nation in 1971, ten days before Bangladesh achieved its liberation.   In his remarks at the event, the High Commissioner said that both countries had deep stakes in each other’s progress and prosperity, as he described people as the cornerstone of this relationship.  Speakers at CAB event in Chattogram call for social resistance against dishonest traders He particularly emphasized the important role that the youth have to play as the custodians of the future of India-Bangladesh relations. The High Commissioner hoped to further reinforce the existing interdependencies between the two countries through more robust linkages in connectivity, culture and commerce.

Amid growing tensions between two close neighbors, Bangladesh and India on Tuesday affirmed commitment to have a friendly relationship considering the existing “multifaceted and wide-ranging” relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) summoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma following the attack on Bangladesh Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala during protests against alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Talking to reporters after his meeting with acting Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah, the High Commissioner said the “multifaceted and wide-ranging” relations between the two countries cannot be reduced to one issue. Visa, consular services at Bangladesh mission in Agartala suspended Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, at a separate briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, said India is a big neighbour and Bangladesh wants good relations with the neighbor. “But we think this good relationship should be based on just and equity.” High Commissioner Verma said they want to build a “constant, stable and constructive” relationship with Bangladesh. Talking to reporters briefly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said they are interested in working with Bangladesh to fulfill their shared aspirations in the field of peace, security and development. He also said there are many interdependencies and they want to build on that for mutual benefits. Pranay Verma entered the ministry around 4pm on Tuesday. Asked, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said he (Indian envoy) had been asked to come. India really wants stable, constructive relationship with Bangladesh: Verma Additional security measures were taken around the ministry with the deployment of army and police personnel. Meanwhile, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala of Tripura have been suspended for an indefinite period. A notification signed by Md Al Amin, first secretary of the Assistant High Commission office, was issued on Tuesday. CA’s Press Secretary said Bangladesh is following due diplomatic process and the government is doing everything whatever necessary. The government of Bangladesh on Monday 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. Attack on Bangladesh Mission: India arrests 7, suspends 3 cops 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 28 November 2024. “This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for,” the ministry said. “We conveyed our concerns to India. Our MoFA (ministry of foreign affairs) is working accordingly,” CA’s Press Secretary Alam said. CA’s Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were present.

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud is scheduled to leave for New Delhi, India on February 7 – the first bilateral visit by the minister after his appointment – to further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations. “It’s likely to be a three-day visit,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (January 18, 2024), noting that the agenda of the visit is yet to be finalised. The Foreign Minister said he will be visiting the country at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Asked whether he will have a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit, Mahmud said, “It is too early to say.” Read more: FM to lead Bangladesh delegation at 19th NAM Summit in Uganda Jaishankar, earlier, invited his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud to visit New Delhi at a mutually convenient time. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma extended the invitation on behalf of the Indian External Affairs Minister on Monday. The Foreign Minister accepted the invitation and told him that he would visit Delhi soon. Mahmud was scheduled to embark on a multilateral tour to Uganda last night. After two hours, he came to know that the flight will not depart due to fog and poor visibility. The Foreign Minister was scheduled to hold a meeting on the sidelines of NAM Summit today. The meeting with the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka marked Hasan Mahmud’s first diplomatic engagement since assuming the office of foreign minister. He noted the successful holding of the 12th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on January 7, which was free, fair and participatory, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also noted that international elections observers and media who visited Dhaka to cover elections expressed their satisfaction over the election process. Read more: FM seeks EU's trade concessions until 2032 for Bangladesh’s graduation

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has invited his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud to visit New Delhi at a mutually convenient time. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma extended the invitation on behalf of the Indian External Affairs Minister on Monday. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud accepted the invitation and told him that he would visit Delhi soon. He revealed he plans his first bilateral visit to India. Dhaka, Delhi discuss expansion of trade, connectivity The visit aims to further strengthen diplomatic ties, with the exact date to be decided later. Additionally, Mahmud is set to embark on a multilateral tour to Uganda this week The meeting with the Indian High Commissioner marked Hasan Mahmud's first diplomatic engagement since assuming the office of foreign minister. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni congratulates Sheikh Hasina He noted the successful holding of the 12th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on January 7, which was free, fair and participatory, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also noted that international elections observers and media who visited Dhaka to cover elections expressed their satisfaction over the election process. Hasan Mahmud mentioned that BNP is resorting to arson in the name of movement and protests and no discussions can be held with ine who patronizes this kind of heinous activities.  No dialogue with those who burn people to death: Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud The new foreign minister thanked the government of India and Dr. Jaisankar for their Messages of Congratulations. Earlier, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar congratulated Dr Hasan Mahmud on his appointment as the new Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. “Look forward to working to further deepen the India-Bangladesh Maitri (friendship),” he said in a message shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday visited the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali and paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary. The Ashram commemorates Bapu’s “Peace Mission” to Noakhali in 1946 and his message of non-violence and communal harmony. The High Commissioner also participated in a discussion titled “The Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World” organized by the Gandhi Ashram Trust. Members of the trust, local political leaders, representatives of local administration as well as civil society and academia joined the interaction. High Commissioner Verma underlined the guiding light of Gandhiji’s philosophy of truth, humanism and non-violence in showing them the path to deal with today’s global menace of extremism and terrorism. He also emphasised Gandhi’s belief in harmony with nature, his determination for the empowerment of the poorest and his message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” that inspires the motto of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” adopted by India for its G20 Presidency.  

The India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) accorded a reception to new Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at a city hotel on Monday. The IBCCI officials greeted Pranay Verma with flowers and a memento. Some publications of IBCCI were also handed over to the Indian envoy. IBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad gave the welcome speech at the programme. The dollar crisis is posing impediments to Bangladesh's exports to India as well as the country's imports from India, Matlub said. He also talked about certain trade barriers that exist between India and Bangladesh. IBCCI Vice-President Shoeb Chowdhury highlighted the friendly ties between India and Bangladesh. Read more: 30 Indian soldiers who fought to liberate Bangladesh recognised on V Day India is now Bangladesh's fourth largest export destination while Poland is third, he said. Shoeb hoped that Bangladesh would be able to export more goods to India to reduce its trade deficit. He sought Pranay Verma's cooperation to further expand the Bangladesh-India ties. Shoeb Chowdhury sought India's assistance to save Bangladesh from debt-trap diplomacy. Pranay Verma lauded the activities of IBCCI and its officials. He emphasised exploring more prospects regarding the enhancement of diplomatic and commercial bonds between India and Bangladesh. The envoy also talked about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "neighbours first" policy which is expected to move Bangladesh-India ties relations further forward. Pranay Verma also made references to visa issues and the importance of the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and India. He also focused on green energy, tech transfer, renewable energy and some other relevant matters. IBCCI Vice-President Abhisek Das gave the vote of thanks at the programme. Read more: CEPA to be win-win for both countries: IBCCI President

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay K Verma has said it is important to work together to keep the legacy of 1971 alive, especially among the younger generations. "That's a very important task. We should not forget our history," he said while speaking as the chief guest at the "Maitri Alumni Reunion 2022" held at Old India House Thursday evening. The high commissioner said the relations between Bangladesh and India are rooted in the shared sacrifice that makes it so special. "We call it a relationship which is special, multifaceted and more than a strategic partnership. But I think it is truly a relationship of people," he said, adding that the people-to-people link is the most important element of bilateral relations.

Newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Thursday said he is looking forward to working closely with the Bangladesh government to realise the full potential of Bangladesh-India ties. The envoy said he would try to work towards further expanding and strengthening the close and friendly ties between the countries. He made the remarks as he presented his credentials to President Abdul Hamid. After that, Verma visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi, Dhaka to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During his meeting with the president, the Indian high commissioner conveyed the greetings of the government and the people of India to the head of state of Bangladesh. Read: Indian High Commissioner pays tribute to Liberation War martyrs

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami on Sunday visited Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chattogram. He had a "very good and fruitful" interaction with the faculty members and the students. The high commissioner also gifted some fitness and gym equipment to the university.