NEW DELHI: Bangladesh has made a “diplomatic approach” to India to facilitate a meeting between its Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in April.
This comes as both the leaders are expected to visit Thailand from April 2-4 to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit.
“We have made a diplomatic approach to India to hold a bilateral meeting between our two leaders at the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit,” Foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Md Touhid Hossain, told news agency ANI.
Earlier in February, External affairs minister S Jaishankar conducted discussions with Bangladesh foreign affairs advisor Hossain during the Indian Ocean Conference in Oman.
Jaishankar noted that their discussions centred on bilateral relations and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
“Met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Conversation was focused on our bilateral relationship, as also on (BIMSTEC),” Jaishankar had posted on X.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry released a statement indicating that both parties discussed various bilateral matters of mutual interest.
Both India and Bangladesh acknowledged the existing difficulties in their bilateral relationship and expressed commitment to collaborate in addressing these issues, as outlined in the statement.
According to the statement, the Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser stressed the significance of commencing talks for the Ganges Water Treaty renewal. Additionally, he underscored the value of convening the SAARC Standing Committee meeting and sought India’s consideration on this matter.