PM's India visit in interests of both countries: Trivedi

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has expressed hope that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit India in the interests of the people of both countries.

He said discussions were underway between Bangladesh and India regarding the prime minister’s proposed visit, while talks would continue to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Trivedi made the remarks while speaking to journalists on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday (September 2).

Earlier, he held separate courtesy meetings with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

During the meetings, Trivedi conveyed invitations from the Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha to Bangladesh’s Speaker and Deputy Speaker to visit India.

During his meeting with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the two sides discussed Bangladesh-India bilateral relations, exchanges of parliamentary delegations, the Rohingya crisis and repatriation, sports and cultural exchanges, among other issues.

After the meeting, Trivedi said they discussed ways for the parliaments of the two countries to work more closely and how people-to-people relations could be further improved.

“Dialogue between the two countries will continue�"and that is democracy,” he said.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said Bangladesh-India relations were historic but had gone through various periods of tension.

He said relations between the two countries during Sheikh Hasina’s rule had been centred on governments, and called for building a more people-oriented relationship based on mutual respect and respect for each country’s independence and sovereignty.

He further alleged that the Awami League government had undermined the people’s democratic rights through the elections held in 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024.

He said the 2024 student-people uprising had once again paved the way for democracy in Bangladesh.

In response, the Indian high commissioner said the Indian government was interested in developing people-centred relations between the two countries.

He said efforts were underway to meet the aspirations of the people of both countries by strengthening people-to-people ties.

At his meeting with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, discussions focused on bilateral relations, parliamentary diplomacy, the use of information technology, modernisation of parliamentary proceedings and increased mutual cooperation.

At the beginning of the meeting, Trivedi praised the architectural design of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, designed by renowned architect Louis I. Kahn.

He highlighted the shared history, culture and heritage of Bangladesh and India and stressed the importance of increasing parliamentary communication and cooperation between the two countries.

The deputy speaker said Bangladesh had taken an initiative to introduce an e-Parliament system and sought India’s cooperation for its successful implementation.

He also said parliamentary diplomacy could create opportunities for the two countries to exchange experiences and expertise.

Kamal expressed hope that having an experienced parliamentarian like Trivedi as India’s high commissioner to Bangladesh would play an important role in strengthening parliamentary ties between the two countries and supporting the modernisation of Bangladesh’s parliamentary system.