India reaffirms willingness to deepen multifaceted engagement with Bangladesh
Dhaka, May 25
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma has reaffirmed India's willingness to deepen multifaceted engagement with Bangladesh for the mutual benefit and shared prosperity of the people of both countries, the High Commission of India in Bangladesh said on Sunday.
High Commissioner Pranay Verma paid a farewell call on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, on May 24.
During the meeting, Rahman thanked the High Commissioner for his contributions to bilateral relations and conveyed best wishes for his next assignment.
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was present at the meeting.
Both sides also briefly discussed various potential areas of cooperation driven by the development priorities of the two countries.
Pranay Verma has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, said the Ministry of External Affairs in April.
Following his new appointment, Verma is scheduled to leave Dhaka on May 27.
Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
Trivedi was elected to the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2019 from the Barrackpore constituency and earlier served multiple terms as a Rajya Sabha member.
Earlier this year, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Khalilur Rahman, in New Delhi.
Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Humayun Kabir, was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar reiterated India's desire to engage constructively with the new Bangladesh government and further strengthen bilateral ties.
The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms. Follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date. Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs noted.
During the visit, Foreign Minister Rahman also met the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The meeting with PM Tarique Rahman is significant - he's been taking a more independent stance lately. Hope India plays smart diplomacy here, especially with the water-sharing and border issues still pending. We need practical outcomes, not just photo ops.
As an Indian, I fully support deepening ties with Bangladesh. Their economy is booming and our cooperation in energy, trade and security benefits lakhs of people on both sides. But we must ensure Rohingya issue doesn't spill into our territory. 🇮🇳🙏
Dinesh Trivedi as High Commissioner? He's a seasoned politician with good connections in West Bengal politics - that could actually help since Bangladesh shares a long border with Bengal. Let's see if he can resolve the Teesta water dispute that's been hanging for decades.
Interesting that both sides discussed "development priorities" - hope this means India is supporting Bangladesh's infrastructure projects like the Padma Bridge and not just pushing our own agenda. True friendship means mutual respect, not a one-sided relationship.
The farewell call to PM Tarique shows continuity in Bangladeshi protocol. India must handle this transition carefully - there's been some anti-India rhetoric recently from certain quarters in Dhaka. Our Neighbourhood First policy should focus on tangible benefits for common people in both countries.
A We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.