The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: In the first structured diplomatic engagement after the Awami League government’s ouster, India on Monday (December 9) expressed its desire for a “mutually beneficial” relationship with Bangladesh, while raising concerns about the safety of minorities.
Bangladesh, in turn, voiced apprehension over “propaganda” by the Indian media and the repeated statements made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile in India.
The foreign office consultations between India and Bangladesh on Monday unfolded against a backdrop of strained ties. Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s visit marked the first from New Delhi since Hasina was ousted by a student-led movement and sought refuge in the neighbouring country.
Later that evening, Misri met with interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who reportedly referred to “dark clouds” over the bilateral relationship. Misri is said to have agreed on the need to dissipate them.
Upon arriving in Dhaka aboard an Indian Air Force flight, Misri first held delegation-level talks with Bangladesh’s foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the foreign ministry.
Speaking to the media after the foreign office consultations, Misri described the discussions as a “frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors”.
“I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh,” he added.
Commenting on recent developments, Misri stated that he “conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities”.
“We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties. We expect a constructive approach from the Bangladesh authorities on these issues and look forward to advancing the relationship in a positive, forward-looking and constructive direction,” he said.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri speaks with Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. Photo: Shafiqul Alam/Facebook.
While Misri did not take questions, Bangladeshi foreign secretary Jashim Uddin addressed the media, asserting that the Indian media had exaggerated the attacks on minorities.
“We brought to India’s attention the misinformation and false reports in Indian media about the alleged mistreatment of minorities following the July-August revolution in Bangladesh. We requested the Indian government to take appropriate measures regarding this,” he said, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
Emphasising that all religions in Bangladesh are practiced freely, Jashim Uddin added: “Furthermore, we underscored that this is an internal matter for Bangladesh and that foreign comments on our internal issues are inappropriate. I also reminded that Bangladesh refrains from commenting on the internal affairs of other countries, and such mutual respect should be extended by others as well.”
He noted that Bangladesh reiterated its concern over the vandalism at the premises of its assistant high commission in Agartala, which India had earlier described as “regrettable”.
The senior Bangladeshi diplomat also mentioned that the issue of Hasina’s stay in India was discussed in the context of her political statements. He conveyed to the Indian foreign secretary that the Bangladeshi government disapproved of her comments made from Delhi.
Quoting his Indian counterpart, he said, “Her presence does not have any bearing on our relations” and added that India would “work with the government of the day”.
When asked if Bangladesh had sought Hasina’s extradition, the Bangladeshi foreign secretary indicated that the matter was not raised this time as the foreign office requires formal requests from relevant government departments to act.
He further remarked, “It’s a political decision, and we can seek her extradition through diplomatic messages. We also have missions in India, so for that, we don’t need any FOC”.
India and Bangladesh’s diplomatic delegations meet at Dhaka for foreign secretary-level talks. Photo: Ministry of External Affairs.
The chief adviser also referred to the “many statements” issued by former Hasina from Delhi, which he said were “creating tensions”.
He raised concerns about Indian media reports suggesting that minorities in Bangladesh were under siege.
According to Bangladeshi media, Misri responded by clarifying that no such statement had been made by the Indian government.
According to Yunus’s press secretary, Misri also addressed the perception that India had ties with only one political party in Bangladesh, specifically the Awami League, calling it incorrect.
He cited Misri as saying he monitored developments in Bangladesh almost hourly during the July-August uprising, and Yunus described the movement as involving all sections of society.
Misri noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Yunus upon his assumption of office.
The Ministry of External Affairs’ press release stated that the formal discussions addressed a range of issues, including political matters, security, border management, trade, commerce, connectivity, water resources, energy cooperation, development partnerships and consular, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
In its readout, Dhaka called for the “initiation of discussions for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996, early conclusion of the Teesta water-sharing agreement and similar accords for other common rivers, removal of trade barriers on Bangladeshi goods, and the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities”.
The Bangladeshi delegation stressed the importance of reviving cooperation under SAARC, a move India approached with reservations. They also pushed for strengthening the sub-regional BIMSTEC grouping, which better aligns with New Delhi’s strategic outlook.
Additionally, Bangladesh requested the resumption of normal visa operations for its nationals, which have been suspended since August.