Dhaka and New Delhi have reached a consensus to work together to solve the crisis created after the influx of displaced persons from Myanmar and prevailing security situation in the bordering state.
“India had assured us to cooperate to overcome the crisis that began after the influx of displaced persons from Myanmar when we sought New Delhi’s support to this end,” Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said at a media briefing after his bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.
The meeting was held at the historic Hyderabad House on Wednesday evening. The two ministers led their respective sides, which was also attended by Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, among others, reports BSS.
During the meeting, Hasan said that they had discussed a wide range of issues including border security, import of essential commodities, the Teesta water sharing agreement, issues on common rivers and of course the prevailing situation in Myanmar.
“We have discussed the Myanmar issue in detail as both the countries are sharing their borders with Myanmar…Bangladesh-India border security also comes up in the discussion prominently during our talks,” he told the media.
The minister said that the Bangladesh side also discussed (in details) the issue so that Dhaka could import an adequate quantity of onion and sugar from India ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
"Apart from this, we have discussed the issue of importing perishable items from India on a regular basis to meet any crisis during the need of the people of Bangladesh," he said, adding that the issue would also be discussed widely during the meeting with the Indian Commerce minister tomorrow.
Hasan said that both sides also discussed how "we can take forward our multi-dimensional relations through BIMSTEC and BBIN framework for the benefit of our people".
He said that both sides also agreed to carry forward our existing bilateral relations, which reached a newer height during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the last couple of years.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of common interest and expressed commitment to further enhance their collaboration to promote sub-regional cooperation within the framework of BIMSTEC, IORA and BBIN, said a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs after the meeting.
This is Hasan’s first official visit to India and his first bilateral visit to any country after assuming office as the new foreign minister of Bangladesh in January 2024.
