Vikram Misri (L) during his meeting with Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, on December 9, 2024.
New Delhi: The foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, visited Dhaka on Monday, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Bangladesh since the political upheaval that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, the country’s prime minister, in August. Misri’s visit comes amid rising tensions between the two nations, primarily due to increasing violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus.
Upon his arrival, Misri was received by senior officials, including the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma. He held discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin at the state guest house in Padma, Dhaka. He also met the interim government’s chief advisor, Muhammad Yunus. The talks aimed to address a range of bilateral issues, focusing significantly on the safety and welfare of minorities in Bangladesh.
During the meetings, Misri expressed India’s concerns regarding recent attacks on minority communities and cultural properties. He highlighted incidents of violence against Hindus and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is said to have been advocating for better protection for his community.
The discussions also encompassed broader topics such as trade, energy cooperation, and regional security. Misri reiterated India's commitment to fostering a constructive relationship with Bangladesh, emphasising that bilateral ties should remain people-centric and mutually beneficial. He noted that despite political changes in Bangladesh, India remains dedicated to collaboration across various sectors, including development projects that benefit both nations.
Misri's visit underscores India's intention to maintain strong diplomatic relations with Bangladesh amid challenging circumstances. As both countries navigate this period of tension, the focus remains on ensuring stability and security for all communities within Bangladesh.
Later, during an interaction with the media, Misri said, “I underlined today, India’s desire to work closely with the interim government of Bangladesh authorities. At the same time, we also had the opportunity to discuss certain developments and issues, and I conveyed our concern, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.” “We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties,” he added.
Misri also expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh’s foreign secretary, Jashim Uddin, for the discussions and the consultations on a range of issues.
Engaging with Bangladeshi stakeholders, Misri articulated India’s diplomatic vision. He emphasized that New Delhi seeks a collaborative and constructive bilateral relationship with Dhaka, characterizing the partnership as fundamentally people-centric. The foreign secretary highlighted the tangible manifestations of this relationship through ongoing development initiatives implemented directly within Bangladesh.
He elaborated that the bilateral engagement encompasses a comprehensive range of strategic domains, including, trade and commercial interactions, connectivity infrastructure, power and energy collaboration, water resource management, cooperation on development, consular services, and cultural exchange programmes, among other things.
Encouraging a forward-looking diplomatic approach, Misri stressed the importance of pursuing mutually advantageous collaborative strategies that benefit both nations. His remarks underscore the depth and potential of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, positioning them as a model of constructive regional engagement.
