India looks forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma said on Sunday, expressing New Delhi’s willingness to reengage with Dhaka.
India has signalled its readiness to work closely with Bangladesh’s newly elected government, with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma saying New Delhi looks forward to renewed engagement with Dhaka.
Verma made the remarks on Sunday after meeting Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, just days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn in on February 17. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed was also present at the meeting.
“I reiterated our position that we look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh,” Verma told reporters following the discussions.
The envoy said he conveyed India’s desire to deepen “people-centric cooperation in all domains” and to move ahead in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner based on mutual interest and benefit. He described the interaction as largely a courtesy call and an initial exchange of views, noting that it was his first meeting with the new foreign minister and minister of state since the government assumed office.
Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as prime minister on February 17 after the party secured a two-thirds majority in the February 12 elections. His swearing-in brought to an end the 18-month tenure of Muhammad Yunus, a period during which relations between India and Bangladesh had deteriorated to what observers described as their lowest point since 1971.
Verma also pointed to recent high-level exchanges between the two countries following the election outcome. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a congratulatory message to Rahman on February 13 soon after the BNP’s electoral victory, the envoy noted.
“They also spoke on the phone later that day,” Verma disclosed on Sunday.
He also recalled that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, representing India and also had a bilateral meeting with the new Bangladesh prime minister.
“In all these communications, we expressed the desire to build on our historic ties with Bangladesh and strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations. We also underlined our commitment to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,” Verma said.
With inputs from agencies
End of Article
