IBNS-CMEDIA: Bangladesh has said it wants to “reset” bilateral ties with India, stressing that the process should be pursued through direct bilateral discussions rather than a multilateral forum.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was quoted by the Dhaka Tribune as saying, “We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum.”
“What I said was mainly applicable to India. We want to build a good working bilateral relationship with India,” he said.
Kabir said relations between the two countries during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remained uncomfortable under what he described as an “authoritarian, corrupt and exploitative” regime.
Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, amid mass protests against her government.
Kabir’s remarks came days after Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman declined to attend the two-day BRICS Summit in India.
Last week, Kabir said Rahman had not been invited to the summit and that the invitation had instead been extended to the BIMSTEC chair.
“How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited? Our prime minister was not invited. Who told you that our Prime Minister was invited? The BIMSTEC Chair was invited. Then why are you asking this question?” he told reporters, as quoted by The Daily Star, ruling out the possibility of Rahman attending the BRICS Summit.
The two-day summit was held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 and was attended by several major world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated in recent months, particularly following New Delhi’s decision to provide refuge to Hasina.
Kabir also confirmed that Rahman would attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which will bring together global leaders in New York.
Asked whether Rahman was scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump during his visit, Kabir said such meetings are often finalised at the last moment on the sidelines of major international conferences.
“The primary focus of the prime minister’s visit is to address the UN General Assembly,” he was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune, adding that details of his other bilateral meetings would be known in due course.
