6 hrs ago
Bangladesh Seeks Reset of Bilateral Relations With India
Bangladesh says it wants to improve and reset its relationship with India.
Its foreign affairs minister said the two countries should talk directly to each other.
He said future cooperation should be based on interests shared by both countries.
He also said Bangladesh should not focus too heavily on India and should work with many countries.
Relations have been strained since former leader Sheikh Hasina went to India after leaving office in 2024.
Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not attend India’s BRICS meeting because of how the invitation was issued.
Rahman will travel to New York on September 21 for a major United Nations meeting.
Bangladesh also says some agreements with India are being reviewed.
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka wants to reset ties with India through bilateral discussions.
Kobir said the relationship should focus on mutual interests and become part of Bangladesh’s broader foreign engagement.
His comments followed Bangladesh’s statement that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not attend India’s BRICS Summit because he was not invited in his personal capacity.
Bangladesh said Rahman will travel to New York on September 21 for the United Nations General Assembly and remain there until September 26.
Kobir said agreements with India are being scrutinized, while Rahman is also expected to hold a meeting on the Rohingya issue during his visit.
- Who
- Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
- What
- Bangladesh said it wants to reset relations with India through a new bilateral framework based on mutual interests.
- Where
- The remarks were made during a Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing; Rahman will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- When
- Kobir made the remarks on Sunday; Rahman is scheduled to travel to New York on September 21 and stay until September 26.
- Why
- Bangladesh says it wants to move beyond what it described as an uncomfortable relationship over the past 15 years and establish more balanced, mutually beneficial ties.
Key facts
- Bangladesh’s proposal
- A renewed bilateral relationship with India based on mutual interests.
- Preferred engagement
- Bangladesh wants initial high-level engagement with India to occur through a bilateral visit rather than a multilateral forum.
- BRICS Summit
- Bangladesh said Tarique Rahman would not attend because the invitation was extended to the BIMSTEC chair rather than to him in his personal capacity.
- United Nations visit
- Rahman is scheduled to leave Dhaka on September 21 for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and stay until September 26.
- Rohingya issue
- Rahman is expected to hold a meeting on the Rohingya issue on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
- India agreements
- Bangladesh said 101 agreements with India are being scrutinized and reviewed.
- Strained relations
- The article links tensions to India providing refuge to Sheikh Hasina after her ouster in August 2024.
Quotes
Humaiun Kobir
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs
“We have to get out of the India fascination. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it.”
wionews.com
“We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum.”
wionews.com
Sources
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