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Transcript of Media Statement by Foreign Secretary in Dhaka

India - Ministry of External Affairs

December 09, 2024

I am here in Dhaka at the invitation of my Bangladeshi colleague, H.E. Mohammad Jashim Uddin, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh for discussions and consultations on the entire gamut of issues in the extremely important bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.

2. Since the political changes in Bangladesh, in August this year, there has, of course, been contact between our leaders. Our Prime Minister was the first world leader to greet the Chief Adviser on his assumption of office. The two of them had a very cordial telephone conversation thereafter and the Chief Adviser also accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to speak at the Third Voice of Global South Summit that was held in August this year. Since then the External Affairs Minister and Foreign Affairs Adviser have also been in touch. They met each other on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York in September this year. And my visit follows those interactions and is the first Foreign Secretary level structured engagement between the two sides following those developments.

3. Today's discussions have given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations and I appreciate the opportunity today to have a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors.

4. I emphasized that India desires a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. We have always seen in the past and we continue to see in the future this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship; one that has the benefit of all the people as its central motivational force.

5. This is reflected on a daily basis in the development projects that have been executed on the ground in Bangladesh and that continue to be developed. It is also reflected in the mutually beneficial engagement we have on a whole set of issues ranging from trade, commerce, connectivity, power, water and energy, development cooperation, consular cooperation, and cultural cooperation.

6. There is no reason why this mutually beneficial cooperation should not continue to deliver in the interest of both our peoples. And, to that end, therefore, I have underlined today India's desire to work closely with the Interim Government of Bangladesh.

7. At the same time, we also had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.

8. We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction.

Thank you all very much!

Dhaka
December 09, 2024