Bangladesh, India FOC tomorrow, Dhaka’s eyes on fruitful discussion 

With Bangladesh and India scheduled to hold a Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) at the foreign secretary level amidst continued tense relations between the neighbours, Dhaka is hopeful for a productive conversation with Delhi.

“I hope the foreign secretaries will have a productive discussion,” said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain while addressing a discussion titled “SAARC: People of South Asia Crave for Cooperation” at the Jatiya Press Club here today.

Hossain underlined the significance of cooperative efforts to negotiate the “changed reality” while acknowledging that the two nations’ ties had undergone changes after August 5, 2024.

He said he hoped that communication would help both countries get past their present impasse.

“We expect to overcome this impasse. Mutual communication and regular engagement are crucial to resolving any deadlock,” Hossain said.

On Monday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to travel to Dhaka for the FOC, where he would meet with Md. Jashim Uddin, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.

Key topics of discussion between the two parties will include connectivity, trade, visas, border killings, water sharing, and other problems of shared interest.

Traders in both countries, especially those in Kolkata, have been affected by the recent slowdown in bilateral commerce, the foreign adviser pointed out.

“We hope the standoff will be resolved soon,” Hossain added, stressing the need for dialogue based on reciprocity.

“It is very clear that we want a good relationship (with India),” Touhid stated earlier last week when speaking to the media.
The foreign adviser did stress, nevertheless, that India and Bangladesh’s relationship must be based on reciprocity. “Both sides need to want that and  should work for it,” he stated.

Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said on Thursday that an interministerial meeting had been used to coordinate the preparations for the high-level consultations.

In addition to discussing rumours about the potential extradition of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August, Alam pointed out that the agenda might cover a variety of bilateral topics, like as commerce and regional connectivity.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s previous briefing, the topic might be discussed.

It is anticipated that the forthcoming consultations would highlight both countries’ resolve to deepen their relationship in spite of present difficulties.