Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said discussions with his Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud would strengthen the Dhaka-Delhi relations.
"Welcome to India, FM Dr Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh. Our discussions today will strengthen Bangladesh-India Maitri (friendship)," Jaishankar said in a brief message shared on X, formerly Twitter.
Foreign Minister Hasan went to India on Tuesday night in a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Jaishankar.
Earlier in the day, Hasan had a meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval at the latter’s office in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
During the one-hour meeting, they discussed wide range of issues relating to peace, security and Rohingya repatriation, reports BSS.
“We have discussed wide range of issues ranging from regional peace, security and Rohingya repatriation,” Hasan told media after emerging from the meeting.
He added that the issues would also be discussed in details during his bilateral talks with S Jaishankar later in the evening.
Hasan said that the both sides have agreed that ensuring security in the region is the pre-requisite for peace and development and both have to work together to continue stability in the region.
He emphasised on working closely to continue the pace of development, which have been achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last couple of years.
About Rohingya issue, the foreign minister said that he sought Indian support for repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to their own country Myanmar saying that Rohingya issue is the worry faction for ensuring regional peace and stability.
Responding to a question, he said that the two sides also discussed issues as how they will work together to ensure peace in the region under the prevailing situation in Myanmar.
Later, the foreign minister paid homage at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Rajghat in the Indian capital.
This is his first bilateral visit abroad as foreign minister after swearing in of the new government in Bangladesh.
At the meeting with Jaishankar, both leaders are expected to “review the progress in wide-ranging areas of bilateral relations and chart out the agenda for future engagement”.
During the visit, the foreign minister is also expected to call on Prime Minister Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Apart from his bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, Hasan will deliver a special lecture at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on “Bangladesh- India Relations in the Last Decade” on Thursday morning.
He will also give another lecture at Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia (FCC, South Asia) on “Bangladesh-India Relations Today” on Thursday evening.
He will leave New Delhi on Friday for Kolkata.
