Dhaka: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is likely to be in Dhaka on December 9 or 10 for the Foreign Secretary-level meeting, a media report said, amid a marked rise in tensions between both neighbours.
This will be the first visit by a senior Indian government official to Bangladesh since the interim government came to power on August 8.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladesh wants good relations with India on a reciprocal basis, and hinted that the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries might take place a day ahead instead of December 10, UNB reported.
“It is very clear that we want good relations but it should be reciprocal. We need to work to that end,” he told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Asked about the FOC, Hossain said it may take place one day ahead of the schedule, or it will be held on December 10 in Dhaka.
However, there has been no official announcement yet regarding Indian FS Misri’s visit to hold the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin.
The visit comes in the wake of rising tensions over India’s repeated urgings to Bangladesh to look after the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities following rising incidences of attacks on them. The arrest and denial of bail to Hindu monk Chinmoy Das, which has led to demonstrations in India by ISKCON followers and others, has led to further friction.
Matters came to a head on Monday when members of a Hindu organisation vandalised the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. India expressed regret over the incident and stepped up security at Bangladeshi missions in India, while Dhaka also strongly condemned the vandalization. On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Foreign Office summoned the Indian envoy Pranay Verma over the incident.
The discussion between the two Foreign Secretaries is likely to cover a range of bilateral issues, including the potential extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, and visa issues, UNB reported.
At the Foreign Ministry’s weekly briefing on November 21, Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing Toufique Hasan confirmed that an inter-ministerial meeting has already taken place to coordinate preparations for the upcoming talks.
“There is a scope for discussion on the matter (extradition of Sheikh Hasina),” Hasan said at a weekly media briefing.
Sheikh Hasina, who fled Dhaka on August 5 following a mass uprising, has been residing in India since then.
While the government intends to bring her back, Hasan emphasised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet received any formal directive to initiate the extradition process.
“We will engage with Delhi and begin the formal process in accordance with the existing extradition treaty once we receive the necessary instructions,” he clarified in response to queries.
Regarding the review of existing agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries, Hasan said that these fall under the jurisdiction of various ministries in Bangladesh.
UNI
