Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 13: India desires a “positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship” with Bangladesh and remains ready to discuss all bilateral issues through existing mechanisms, including at the technical level, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the next round of India-Bangladesh consular dialogue would be held on a mutually convenient date.
Responding to reports that the consular dialogue had been postponed, Jaiswal said, “India desires a positive, constructive, and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh. Accordingly, initiatives have been taken and meetings held under structured mechanisms in areas such as trade, railways, water resources, and border management, among others.”
He added that the upcoming dialogue would also discuss matters relating to the revised travel arrangement.
“The next round of India-Bangladesh consular dialogue, which will also take up the matters relating to revised travel arrangement, will be held on a mutually convenient date. India remains ready to discuss all matters or all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through these existing mechanisms, including at the technical level. So, the consular dialogue will be held at a mutually convenient date,” he said.
On October 7, Bangladesh's outgoing High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, held a farewell meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi. The two officials reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation under existing institutional mechanisms.
During the meeting, both sides recognised the importance of people-to-people ties and expressed confidence that collective efforts would lead to “meaningful and impact-driven collaboration” in areas of shared interest.
In a post on X, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said Hamidullah had paid a farewell call on Misri as he completed his tenure. The two officials reflected on the broad range of bilateral relations and cooperation under the existing Bangladesh-India institutional mechanisms.
“They recognised the vitality of diverse people-to-people connects; and expressed confidence that collective endeavours would result in meaningful and impact-driven collaboration in shared interests,” the post added.
Earlier, on October 4, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met Hamidullah in New Delhi and appreciated his contribution to bilateral ties.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on X, “Pleased to received Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for a farewell call. Appreciate his contribution and wish him all the best in future endeavours.”