Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen today (November 23, 2023) said he is not carrying any special message from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or there is "no hidden agenda" as he leaves for New Delhi tomorrow to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, scheduled for Friday. He, however, said the Bangladesh side will definitely inform the Indian side if they have queries regarding the next national election. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Masud said the relationship between Bangladesh and India is multifaceted. Read: AL’s main task is to prevent propaganda, sabotage ahead of polls: Obaidul Quader Efforts to keep the relationship unhindered and smooth before, during and after the election may come up for discussions, he said. The foreign secretary said he will brief diplomats from countries that do not have missions in Dhaka about the situation in Bangladesh and the government’s efforts to hold a free and fair election. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said no political issues will be discussed in the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries. Read: Way towards green, sustainable businesses in Asia and the Pacific pointed at UN forum in Hong Kong "I don't think so. Political discussion has already been done. There will be no discussion about politics there," Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when a reporter wanted to know whether politics and the upcoming election will be discussed in the forthcoming meeting. The foreign minister said it is a routine meeting between the two countries where various issues of mutual interest will be discussed. "We do FOC (Foreign Office Consultations) with many countries. It is a routine matter," he added. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is scheduled to hold the regular bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Friday. This is the second foreign secretary-level meeting between the two countries this year. The first one was held in February in Dhaka. At the Foreign Office Consultations, the two countries usually discuss all the major issues of mutual interests to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors. Read: ‘Those threatening to foil polls had shown bias towards undemocratic change in power in the past’ Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the relationship between Bangladesh and India today stands out as a model in terms of shared benefits. In an interaction in London, he said the two countries have settled the land boundary and maritime border issues. Jaishankar highlighted connectivity cooperation, energy supply and use of ports and noted that Bangladesh-India ties stand as model ties.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday (November 20, 2023) said no political issues will be discussed in the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries. "I don't think so. Political discussion has already been done. There will be no discussion about politics there," Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when a reporter wanted to whether political and upcoming elections will be discussed in the forthcoming meeting. The Foreign Minister said it is routine meeting between the two countries where various issues of mutual interest will be discussed. "We do FOC (Foreign Office Consultations) with many countries. It is a routine matter," he added. Read: Try to figure out a way to have dialogue without pre-conditions: Peter Haas urges parties Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is scheduled to visit India on November 23 or 24 to hold a regular bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Vinay Mohan Kwatra. This is the second foreign secretary-level meeting between the two countries this year. The first one was held in February in Dhaka. Both the countries express their satisfaction on the excellent bilateral relation that exists between the two countries. In the Foreign Office Consultations, the two countries usually discuss all the major issues of mutual interests to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors. Read: No scope for dialogue now: Quader acknowledges receiving Donald Lu’s letter from Peter Haas Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the relationship between Bangladesh and India today stands out as a model in terms of shared benefits. In an interaction in London, he said the two countries have settled the land boundary and maritime border issues. Jaishankar highlighted connectivity cooperation, energy supply and use of ports and noted that Bangladesh-India ties stand as model ties. Read more: With whom dialogue will take place, FM wants to know

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said the level of relationship between Bangladesh and India is incomparable to that of any other country and relation with any another country won’t affect it. The minister said this while talking to reporters at the ministry on Monday. Bangladesh inked several cooperation documents with China during the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister on Sunday. Also read: Fuel prices lower than neighbouring countries even after hike: Hasan Mahmud When asked whether the visit will affect ties with India he said, “Our relationship with India is written in blood. India and its people’s assistance during our Liberation War will remain as long as Bangladesh exists.” He said China is a friendly country to Bangladesh and is country’s development partner. “They (China) have assistance in our development projects and their officials work in our country. We follow our foreign policy of ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’ and as a friendly nation China can make any proposal they want,” he added. Regarding BNP’s reaction on fuel price hike Hasan Mahmud urged the party to look at global situation and abstain from the politics of misleading people. Also read: Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives “Last year the government provided subsidy of Tk 53,000 crore in energy and power sector. It is not possible for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to provide Tk 100 crore daily subsidy anymore and it is impossible for any other country,” he said. “It takes a month or two to see the result after prices of fuel decline in global market. After that we will readjust the prices in our country,” said Hasan Mahmud.

Mentioning that the Bangladesh-India relationship is anchored in history and culture, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the two countries now should concentrate on people-to-people contact, trade, business and connectivity as the issues became increasingly important for the two sides. “The core of the bilateral relationship now needs to concentrate on people-to-people contact, trade, business and connectivity, which have become increasingly important for both sides,” she said in her video message screened at a programme marking Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day). Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) arranged the programme in New Delhi on Monday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India-Bangladesh Diplomatic Relations as India recognised Bangladesh on December 06, 1971. Hasina said the relationship between Bangladesh and India is anchored in history, culture, language and shared values of secularism, democracy, and countless other commonalities. “Our bonds of friendship have further been strengthened, diversified and expanded in recent years due to regular high-level political interactions and exchanges.”Despite restrictions imposed by Covid-19, she said, the relationship at all levels have remained stable and strong. “This was evident in our excellent cooperation and collaboration in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said. Read: Dhaka, Delhi created model relations, says FM terming Dec 6 a historic day “Our partnership is not confined to treaties, MoUs, bilateral agreements that provide the formal structures for our working relations. Today, our broad partnership has matured, taking dynamic, comprehensive and strategic shape, and is based on sovereignty, equality, trust and mutual respect,” said the Prime Minister. Noting that India recognized Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state on the 6th December 1971, she said Bangladesh and India are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of establishment of diplomatic relations. “This is a milestone in the journey of our bilateral relations,” Hasina said. “We continue to believe in the importance of our relationship,” she said, adding that this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the foundation of the bilateral relations of the two countries and the path ahead. It’s also an occasion for both the countries to recommit to work towards further strengthening the longstanding dynamic partnership, she added. “I’m confident that together our two countries and two peoples will continue to turn our vision and ideas into realities, for decades to come,” the PM said. During the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on 26-27 March 2021, both sides agreed on the joint celebrations in 18 selected cities along with Dhaka and New Delhi, and to recognize 6 December as ‘Maitri Diwas,’ she said. The foundation of Bangladesh-India relations was laid by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu.  “We’ve a very special relationship with India. The relationship is the friendliest. The friendship of Bangladesh and India is in our hearts. The bonds of friendship will remain firm and long-lasting,” she quoted Bangabandhu as saying in 1972. Read: Grab investment opportunities in Bangladesh, PM Hasina to global investors Hasina also recalled the generosity of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her government, leaders of other political parties, and overall the people of India towards the people of Bangladesh in 1971. They provided accommodation to 10 million refugees from Bangladesh, gave space for the Mujibnagar government and waged a diplomatic campaign in favour of Bangladesh, she mentioned. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Ambassador Muhammad Imran and ICWA Director General Vijay Thakur Singh also spoke at the function. Modi’s reassurance Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he will work with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina to further expand and deepen ties between the two countries.    "I look forward to continuing working with PM Sheikh Hasina to further expand and deepen our ties," he tweeted on Monday as the two countries celebrate ‘Maitri Diwas’ (Friendship Day).    Just 10 days before the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, India had recognised Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with independent Bangladesh. “Today India and Bangladesh commemorate Maitri Diwas. We jointly recall and celebrate the foundations of our 50 years of friendship," Modi said. During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March this year, it was decided to commemorate the 6th December as "Maitri Diwas". 

Bangladesh and India on Thursday discussed early resolution of pending issues as well as the new areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is likely to arrive in Dhaka on a brief visit on Tuesday aiming to boost ties between the two neighbouring countries, an informed source said.

India on Thursday described its relations with Bangladesh as "exceptionally" close but expressed displeasure over "mischievous" story pertaining to Bangladesh-India ties. 

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Tuesday the relations between Bangladesh and India is now much stronger, warmer, friendlier and development-oriented ones than any time in the past.