Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has never ruled out visiting India and Dhaka remains hopeful that the visit will take place through a proper bilateral framework when the environment is conducive, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Monday.
“Nothing gets resolved just over a phone call. We are having discussions, and things are positive,” Kobir told reporters after speaking at the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka.
He said bilateral engagement is necessary to maintain relations between the two countries and stressed that the Prime Minister’s visit, whenever it takes place, will be a bilateral one.
“To maintain relations with another country, bilateral engagement is required. We will do it directly. The visit will be bilateral, and we will talk,” he said.
Asked whether the Prime Minister could visit India this year, Kobir said Dhaka wants the visit to take place in a conducive environment and through a proper bilateral framework, but gave no specific timeframe.
“There are challenges, but we believe those can be overcome through dialogue,” he said, referring to the existing challenges in Bangladesh-India relations.
Kobir also praised Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi for trying to understand Bangladesh’s current context and expressed hope that New Delhi would give due importance to his assessments.
“The Indian High Commissioner here is doing a good job; he is trying,” he said.
“Hopefully, Delhi will be receptive to him and the opinions and analysis he provides regarding the context in Bangladesh.”
The State Minister said Bangladesh wants to pursue a foreign policy based on strategic autonomy, national interest and balanced engagement with all countries.
“Every country wants strategic autonomy. Bangladesh also wants it,” he said, stressing that Dhaka will maintain open channels with its partners without compromising national interests.
Ganges treaty
On the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is due to expire in December, Kobir said Bangladesh would seek an outcome that best serves its national interests.
Asked whether the existing treaty would be renewed or replaced with a new agreement, he said, “Whatever is best for Bangladesh’s interest will be done.”
On a possible guarantee clause, he said Bangladesh would work to safeguard its national interests and security.
“Whatever is best for Bangladesh’s national interest and security, we will work to ensure that,” he said.
Kobir said discussions are already underway and Bangladesh is waiting for a final response from the Indian side.
“Our committee is ready. We are just waiting for the final response from our Indian counterparts. So yes, we are hopeful,” he said.
Dhaka seeks reciprocity
Kobir also said Bangladesh expects India to prevent individuals based in India from using its territory to make political statements or engage in activities aimed at destabilising Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh also does not allow anyone from India to use Bangladeshi territory to make statements against the Indian government.
“We don’t allow any terrorist coming from India to sit here and speak against the Indian government. So, it sends a bad message. We hope India will do that as well,” he said.
Despite the differences, Kobir said India remains an important partner for Bangladesh and stressed that Dhaka would keep the door open for dialogue.
“Regional cooperation is required, and India will be an important partner for Bangladesh,” he said.
“As we said, we never close the door to dialogue in diplomacy. It is always open.”
Kobir said Bangladesh would continue engaging with India in an open and candid manner and seek solutions to outstanding issues through dialogue.
“We are having positive discussions, and I am hopeful we will reach satisfactory conclusions,” he said.