Adviser for Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain said on Wednesday that Bangladesh wants to work closely with India for promoting bilateral relations stressing on more 'people centric engagement' in the upcoming days.
He made this remark at the first official meeting with the Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma since the formation of the interim government at the Foreign Ministry.
High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on the adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed various bilateral issues. He briefed the High Commissioner about the current situation in Bangladesh, and mentioned that Bangladesh witnessed a second liberation last week through a mass uprising spearheaded by valiant students.
The combined forces of the students and people have emerged victorious against the forces of authoritarianism and repression in their quest for ending discriminations and inequities.
However, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma expressed India's interest in strengthening its relationship with Bangladesh under the newly established interim government led by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.
During the meeting, the Foreign Adviser particularly stressed on some key issues like stopping border killing, conclusion of Teesta Water sharing Agreement, and ensuring supply of essential commodities.
He thanked the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his good wishes extended to the Chief Adviser on his assumption of his new responsibilities.
Foreign Affairs Adviser mentioned about highly exaggerated media campaign about happenings in Bangladesh. About former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent statements, he mentioned that such statements emanating from India is not conducive to fostering better bilateral relations.
"The government is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and create an atmosphere to hold free, fair and participatory elections," the adviser said.
"We are interested in advancing our relationship with Bangladesh," Verma told the media following the meeting.
When asked about the duration of Hasina's stay in India, Verma declined to comment.
Meanwhile, during the meeting Adviser mentioned that the most pressing task before this interim government is to bring normalcy to the overall law and order situation and bring the economy on track.
The government is working on meaningful reforms and a lasting transformation to fulfill the aspiration of the people, especially the youth.
"The fearless student movement against a discriminatory public service recruitment system soon morphed into a nation-wide revolutionary struggle to establish a rules-based, just, fair and inclusive society. Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus agreed to take the helm of the interim government at the request of the students and people," he told Verma.
Indian High Commissioner congratulated the Adviser for Foreign Affairs on his new responsibilities. He referred to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's good wishes to the Chief Adviser and expressed the keen willingness of the Government of India to work with the interim government in the coming days to fulfill the shared aspirations of peoples from both countries.
Adviser for Foreign Affairs affirmed Interim government's commitment to ensure peaceful coexistence of different communities in Bangladesh including the minorities. He mentioned that the government is pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against them. He added that all religious groups and other political parties are also working to ensure safety and security of the minorities.
He thanked the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his good wishes extended to the Chief Adviser on his assumption of his new responsibilities.
He mentioned that the government is pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against them.
He added that all religious groups and other political parties are also working to ensure safety and security of the minorities.
The Adviser for Foreign Affairs mentioned that the most pressing task before this interim government is to bring normalcy to the overall law and order situation and bring the economy on track.
The government is working on meaningful reforms and a lasting transformation to fulfill the aspiration of the people, especially the youth, adviser told the Indian High Commissioner.
