Bangladesh’s finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed moved for reconciliation as ties between Delhi and Dhaka seemed to be in a free fall. He said that the head of the interim administration, Muhammad Yunus, was personally working to mend India-Bangladesh ties.
The Bangladesh interim administration has no intention of allowing relations with India to turn bitter and is instead focused on strengthening bilateral ties and ensuring economic stability, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday. These were the first words aimed at reconciliation even as protests, cancellation of visa services and protests threatened to plunge the ties between India and Bangladesh to a new low. He said the head of the interim administration, Muhammad Yunus, was personally working to normalise ties.
Suspension of consular and visa services by Bangladesh and statements by Bangladeshi officials and leaders targeting India added to the chill in ties. As the historical relations between the two countries were in a free fall, the public remarks from finance adviser Ahmed seemed to be an olive branch. In the interim set-up, the finance adviser is functioning as the finance minister.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat, Ahmed stated, “The current interim government does not want any kind of bitter relationship with a big neighbour like India. Rather, the government’s main goal is to further develop bilateral relations and maintain economic stability.”
He noted that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus was personally working to ease existing tensions and normalise ties with New Delhi. The interim regime, he said, does not want relations with India to deteriorate under any circumstances, reported Dhaka-based Bangla daily Desh Rupantor.
Addressing recent anti-India remarks heard in some quarters, the Bangladesh finance adviser said these were political in nature and had no involvement of the interim administration. Regardless of political rhetoric, he stressed that the Yunus administration remained committed to maintaining stable state-to-state relations with India.
BANGLADESH TO IMPORT RICE FROM INDIA, BOOST ECONOMIC TIES
Ahmed also stated that the current political situation would not disrupt trade or economic cooperation. He confirmed that Bangladesh had decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice from India, describing the move as a step that would further strengthen economic ties. He added that there would be no barriers to importing essential commodities, reported Dhaka-based Bangla daily Desh Rupantor.
Dhaka-based daily The Daily Star reported that the Yunus administration is also going to buy an additional 50,000 metric tonnes of rice from Pakistan.
He said the administration would not be drawn into any attempts by third parties to provoke or damage relations with India. The interim administration, Ahmed added, was handling the situation cautiously and aimed to advance bilateral relations by prioritising national interests.
His remarks came as India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties declined following the outbreak of anti-India protests after the assassination of anti-India radical leader Osman Hadi, who was contesting as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 seat.
The aftermath of his death saw radical protestors and extremists targeting Indian diplomatic missions in different Bangladeshi cities, leading to India temporarily suspending visa services in the country.
