Bangladesh has withdrawn its judicial officials from participating in training sessions scheduled at India’s National Judicial Academy in Bhopal and a state judicial academy. The program, initially planned for February 10-20, was canceled as per directives issued by the Supreme Court.
The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs issued a circular on Sunday announcing the cancellation. Earlier, on December 30, 50 judicial officials, including Assistant Judges, Senior Assistant Judges, and District and Sessions Judges, were granted permission to attend the program. The Indian government had agreed to bear all expenses related to the training, which was part of a bilateral agreement signed during Sheikh Hasina’s 2017 visit to India.
This initiative aimed to enhance the expertise of Bangladeshi judicial officials through training at India’s premier institutions. The abrupt cancellation raises questions about the current dynamics between Dhaka and New Delhi, as relations face new challenges.
On January 3, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a “democratic, stable, peaceful, and inclusive Bangladesh.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the importance of mutual trust and people-centric ties, adding that India’s engagements with Bangladesh focus on areas like trade, connectivity, and capacity building to benefit its citizens.
(Inputs from ANI)