India seeks to maintain a “positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship” with Bangladesh and remains ready to discuss all bilateral issues through existing institutional mechanisms, including at the technical level, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had undertaken several initiatives and held meetings with Bangladesh under structured mechanisms covering trade, railways, water resources and border management.
Responding to a question about reports of the postponement of the India-Bangladesh consular dialogue, Jaiswal said the next round of talks, which will also address matters related to the revised travel arrangement, would be held on a mutually convenient date.
“India desires a positive, constructive, and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh. Accordingly, initiatives have been taken and meetings held under structured mechanisms in areas such as trade, railways, water resources, and border management, among others,” he said.
“The next round of India-Bangladesh consular dialogue, which will also take up the matters relating to revised travel arrangement, will be held on a mutually convenient date. India remains ready to discuss all matters or all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through these existing mechanisms, including at the technical level,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s outgoing High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi on October 7 for a farewell call. The two sides reviewed the broader bilateral relationship and cooperation under existing institutional mechanisms.
In a post on X, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said both officials acknowledged the importance of people-to-people ties and expressed confidence that collective efforts would lead to “meaningful and impact-driven collaboration” in areas of mutual interest.
Earlier, on October 4, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Hamidullah in New Delhi and appreciated his contribution to bilateral relations.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said in a post on X, “Pleased to receive Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for a farewell call. Appreciate his contribution and wish him all the best in future endeavours.”
(IANS Inputs)
