Modi wants good ties with Dhaka: Trivedi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to maintain good relations with Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said on Monday, expressing optimism about the future of bilateral ties.

“India’s people want a good relationship between the two countries, and our Prime Minister also wants a good relationship,” Trivedi told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Trivedi met Prime Minister Tarique at around 11am. He also separately met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on the day.

Speaking about the meetings, the Indian envoy said he was pleased to meet both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, describing the discussions as “very cordial”.

“Between two democratic countries, there will be many issues, but all of them are resolvable,” Trivedi said.

“We hope that good things will happen in the future,” he added.

The meetings came amid efforts by Dhaka and New Delhi to improve bilateral relations after a period of strained ties.

Trivedi assumed office as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh in June, and Monday’s meeting was his first with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on June 25.

The Indian envoy had earlier met Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at the state guest house Padma on Sunday.