Dhaka/New Delhi, Dec 31 (UNI) India and Bangladesh will look forward to script a new chapter in bilateral ties, following the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Dhaka for the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah has said.
Hamidullah, who was summoned back to Dhaka on Monday amid rising bilateral tensions between the two neighbours, posted on his X handle today that the two nations look forward to scripting a new chapter in their bilateral ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual dependence.
This follows talks held between Jaishankar and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is Khaleda Zia’s son.
“As HE Dr @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka after a whirlwind 4-hr visit, #Bangladesh & #India would look forward to script a new chapter in Bangladesh-India ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence, as indeed briefly discussed with @bdbnp78 Acting Chair, @trahmanbnp this afternoon,” he posted.
Jaishankar was in Dhaka on Wednesday to represent the Indian government and people at the funeral of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia. The visit of Jaishankar and his talks with Tarique Rahman, during which he personally handed over a letter of condolences from PM Modi to Rahman, was in focus in the Bangladeshi media today.
Following Hamidullah being called back on Monday night, Bangladeshi media reports had said that the decision was taken in view of the deteriorating state of bilateral relations with India.
On December 26, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Ministry had expressed concern over the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh and condemned the brutal murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das. Two days later, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry rejected India’s statement and instead claimed persecution in India of minority Christian and Muslims communities.
India had also summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner over the deteriorating security situation around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, and Dhaka had done likewise with the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma.
