Delhi ready to work with Bangladesh's new govt: India's foreign secretary

India is ready to work with Bangladesh's new government on the basis of mutual respect and benefit, Vikram Misri, foreign secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, India, has said.

Speaking at a meeting with a visiting Bangladeshi media delegation at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi yesterday (5 May), he said, "We stand ready to work with Bangladesh. We want the relationship to be constructive, pragmatic, positive, and based on mutual benefit."

At the same time, he said if any negative situation arises through the involvement of a third country, it would not be conducive to strengthening bilateral ties.

Highlighting India's willingness to engage with Bangladesh's new government, which came to power through the national elections held in February, he said Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate the new leadership and extend his best wishes to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

"We are in favour of strengthening relations. We will do whatever is necessary from our side to take bilateral ties forward," he added.

During the session, Misri responded to a range of questions from Bangladeshi journalists. Key issues discussed included the future of the Teesta water-sharing agreement, the possible return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, potential border tensions following political developments in West Bengal, the extradition of individuals accused in the Hadi killing case, and negotiations over new loans under the Line of Credit (LoC).

On the question of LoC negotiations, he said the matter would depend on Bangladesh's interest.

A senior official of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka told The Business Standard after the meeting that a discussion between the High Commission and Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD) on LoC issues is expected within the next two to three weeks.

Responding to concerns that political developments in West Bengal – following the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party over Mamata Banerjee's party – could trigger new border tensions, Vikram Misri dismissed such fears.

"Foreign policy is made in the capital. Changes in a particular state do not alter national foreign policy," he said.

Responding to another question, the diplomat clarified that recent media reports from the Indian side stating that snakes and crocodiles would be released along the India-Bangladesh border to curb smuggling and illegal crossings do not reflect the government's position.

Rejecting allegations that India had supported a particular political party in Bangladesh over the past 15 years, he said, "When electricity from India goes to Bangladesh, it does not go to the homes of any specific party's members or leaders – it reaches all citizens. India's relationship is with the people of Bangladesh, not any single political party."

On the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement, he noted that fresh discussions could take place. He also indicated that visa restrictions for Bangladeshi citizens travelling to India would be discussed soon.

Misri emphasised that commercial engagement remains a key priority for India in its relationship with Bangladesh.

In response to a question on reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), he said that the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) currently holds greater potential.

He said that although India had sought national identity verification from Bangladesh for suspected foreign nationals across India on charges of different crimes, the verification for nearly 3,000 individuals could not be provided.

"In cases involving foreign nationals, nationality verification is required, and that process has not yet been completed."

"So far, around 3,000 such cases over the past five years are still pending verification," the Indian foreign secretary added.

Responding to another question, Vikram Misri said, "India will continue to supply refined fuel to Bangladesh. There is no requirement for Bangladesh to rely only on Russian fuel. We are also importing fuel from other countries and refining it."

Randhir Jaiswal, additional secretary and spokesperson of India's ministry of external affairs, also attended the meeting.