No dates finalised for Rahman's India visit: Bangladesh Minister
Dhaka, Aug 13
Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, on Thursday said that no dates have been finalised for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India, local media reported.
"No date has yet been fixed for when the Prime Minister will visit Japan. It will be scheduled at a suitable time for both countries. As you know, the Prime Minister is currently busy with various matters concerning Bangladesh, and nothing has yet been finalised regarding visits to India or any other country. These matters will certainly be finalised through discussions with the respective countries," leading Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo quoted the minister as saying while responding to media queries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Answering another question on whether Rahman's visit to India could ease tensions between the two countries, the minister said that there is an opportunity to resolve many problems whenever the leaders of the two countries speak, or bilateral discussions take place.
On Monday, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Rahman and described the meeting as "fruitful", saying that the two countries not only share a border but also "share dreams".
Trivedi on Monday also held a separate meeting with Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral partnership across several sectors.
Taking to X following the meeting with Rahman, the Indian High Commission said that the envoy conveyed India's intent to work together with the Bangladeshi government and the people in a "positive, constructive and forward-looking manner".
"They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh with a people-centric approach," it added.
Addressing reporters following his meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Trivedi said that India was looking forward to a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahman and expressed confidence that discussions would help address issues between the two countries.
"We are looking forward. Our invitation is there in place. We are positive that if the two leaders meet together, there will be discussion. There will be issues in democracies. It's not democracy if there is no issue. But there is only one people's issue, which is good relations. It's a win-win situation if there is a good relationship," leading Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted Trivedi as saying.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's encouraging to see both sides being cautious yet optimistic. The fact that the Bangladesh minister acknowledges that dialogues can resolve issues is a positive sign. Let's hope the leaders meet soon and prioritise trade, connectivity, and the people's welfare over politics.
Typical diplomatic speak - "no dates finalised" means there are indeed some issues to be worked out. But it's a good move by India to keep the dialogue open. The "win-win" phrase from the envoy is the crux. Let the process take its time; haste makes waste.
As someone who follows South Asian relations, I appreciate India's consistent stance. The reference to "issues in democracies" is a mature way of acknowledging differences while stressing on the shared goal of good relations. Hope the bilateral partnership strengthens further for mutual benefit. 🌏
The mention of "people-centric approach" is reassuring. Both countries share so much - language, culture, and aspirations. I just hope that the leadership meets soon, not just for headlines, but to address real issues like border management, water sharing, and trade deficits that affect common citizens.
It's good to see regional diplomacy at work. India has always been a reliable partner for Bangladesh, and vice versa. The idea of "sharing dreams" is powerful - hopefully, it translates into concrete outcomes on connectivity and energy cooperation. Let's wait for the dates to be finalised.
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